Breakers make strides during summer

Summer League play for the Laguna Beach High boys’ basketball team came to an end this week, a session that included 25 games and saw the Breakers finish above the .500 mark.

The Breakers’ play pleased Coach Bret Fleming.

“I thought we made tremendous progress as a team and we’re all really looking forward to having a great season,” he said.

The Breakers, led by guards Jake Dalke and Cole Kesler, concluded summer ball Wednesday and scored a 70-24 victory over Crean Lutheran South, Fleming said.

Laguna launched summer league play June 20. The Breakers played in summer leagues hosted by Dana Hills and Godinez and also played in tournaments at Corona del Mar and Concordia University.

They ended their summer run with a 15-10 record.

Suiting up for the Laguna varsity team were guards Dalke, Kesler, Jack Pillsbury, Paul MacCabe, Derek Reigel and forwards Brandon Lewis, Luke Barker, Noah Blanton, Bryce Blanton and Santi Pierini.

Fleming said that guard Tyler Masukawa, who last year was the Most Valuable Player in the Orange Coast League, missed summer play due to knee tendonitis.

“I thought we improved a great deal during the summer and at times showed glimpses of being really good,” Fleming said. “I thought our guys gained a lot of confidence this summer.

“I’m most impressed with our depth. We’ll be able to play 10, 11 guys next year and should have eight or nine kids (who are) capable of starting.”

Although summer league action is complete, the Breakers do have one more event to participate in before the month is through: the program’s boys’ basketball alumni tournament.

The fifth annual Alumni Boys’ Basketball Tournament is July 30 at both the Dugger and North gymnasiums on the Laguna Beach campus. Fleming said that about 100 former players have participated in past tournaments. This year, 10 teams will be divided into two five-team pools before moving on to a single-elimination tournament.

Games start at 8:30 a.m.

“I started this five years ago for purely selfish reasons,” said Fleming, who began the tournament as a way to reunite with all of his former players. “It’s now turned into a great fundraiser for the basketball program, as well.”

This year’s tournament has players who represented the program nearly 40 years ago. The 2011-12 team will vie for the title and is among several teams out to unseat the 1998-2000 squad that has won the first four tournament championships.

One game also pits the current varsity against dads of varsity players.

All games will have referees.

The event also includes a snack bar and auction items. Funds raised go toward the boys’ basketball team’s scheduled trip to Hawaii during the winter break.

The cost is $50 per player and $250 for an individual sponsor. Last year, the event had 12 sponsors. Alumni Tournament T-shirts also are available.

Fleming said that post-tournament festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. at El Ranchito Restaurant.