High School Roundup: CMHS boys’ basketball falls to Laguna Beach

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Laguna Beach 60, Costa Mesa 51

If the Costa Mesa High boys’ basketball team is to have any chance to take down rival Estancia on Friday night, the Mustangs know they’ll have to step up their game from Wednesday’s Orange Coast League home loss to Laguna Beach.

Costa Mesa (9-9, 1-1 in league) trailed by five at halftime, 27-22. The Mustangs also matched a three-pointer by the Breakers early in the third quarter, when senior Chris Calderon knocked one down from distance to make it 30-25. But Laguna Beach continually stuffed any type of momentum the Mustangs tried to build.

Senior Calvin Ko led Costa Mesa with 15 points, while seniors Nabeel Salameh and Mason Tufuga added nine points each. Calderon finished with eight points.

Sophomore Blake Burzell led the Breakers with 17 points, while seniors Darin Richardson and Nick Rahder scored 12 points each.

“I think we played hard,” Costa Mesa Coach Phil Weber said. “We had some early letdowns in the third quarter. They run everything to the T. I thought we did a good job of scouting and being ready for them. But they executed like a good team does.”

Costa Mesa plays host to Estancia Friday at 7 p.m. in the first game of the Battle for the Bell two-game series. The next rivalry game is Feb. 5 at Estancia. The Eagles won the bell last year for the fourth straight time.

“It’s super exciting,” Weber said of the game against Estancia. “I’m excited for it. I know the kids are ready for it. Because it’s Estancia [next], we just can’t sit and dwell. We have to move forward and take this one as it is and get ready for Estancia because that’s going to be a big game.”

— Steve Virgen

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Estancia 59, Calvary Chapel 45

Evan Pettingill scored 18 points to lead Estancia in the Orange Coast League game on Wednesday.

Cameron Jones added 14 points for Estancia (10-10, 1-1 in league)

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WRESTLING

Newport Harbor 54, Huntington Beach 19

Junior Cheyenne Stooks, a 106-pounder, was one of five Sailors who won by pin in the Sunset League match on Wednesday.

Senior Erik Herrera (132 pounds), senior Harrison Reich (145), junior DJ Dennison (182) and senior Valdemar Gomez (285) also won by win for Newport Harbor (6-3, 1-1 in league).

Junior Michael Craft (113), senior Haley Datt (120), senior David Santos (195), junior Drew Dobbs (220) won by forfeit for the Sailors.

Newport Harbor competes next at the Newport-Mesa District Championships at Costa Mesa High on Tuesday.

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GIRLS’ WATER POLO

Saddleback 15, Estancia 14

Hailey Hopp scored seven goals to lead the Eagles in the Orange Coast League game on Wednesday.

Katelyn Chesemore added four goals for Estancia and goalie Hanna Smith made eight saves including a five-meter penalty shot.

The Eagles, with just four field players, tied the game late in the fourth quarter, 14-14. But Saddleback scored the game-winning goal with 21 seconds left.

Estancia had the final shot on goal to tie but was denied.