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Youth Scene: NJB Breakers top Kentucky

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The Laguna Beach Breakers turned in their best performance to date Saturday and it resulted in a victory in National Junior Basketball boys’ Division 1 action.

Laguna used a balanced attack to top Kentucky, 39-33. The Breakers played tenacious team defense which led to multiple steals, especially in the second half. They also hit the boards aggressively and out-rebounded an opponent for the first time this season.

Breakers Coach Dennis Sakai attributed the victory to his team’s defense, improved spacing on the court, and its passing game both out on the perimeter and on cuts to the basket.

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The Breakers (2-5) were in scoring by Chase Hall with 13 points. Charlie Pillsbury had nine points, Taro Sakai seven points, Kaden Herr four points, and Timmy Crawford, Evan Henry and Jack Piggot each scored two points.

The Breakers will face a formidable test at 5:30 p.m. Saturday when they face Tennessee at the Laguna Hills Community Center. Tennessee has won the two previous meetings between the teams this season.

— Reader submission

Boys’ Fifth-Grade All-Net Division

Laguna Beach 36, San Gabriel Valley 22: The Breakers put their six-game winning streak to the test and responded with a big defensive performance to extend their streak.

The Breakers lost two key players (Griffin Naess, Boden Gillette) to injury, but Ben Neufeld (12 points), Oliver Rounaghi (12 points) and Taylor Towe (eight points) dominated on offense and secured the win. Noah Liao and Luke Meisberger (two points each) were solid in filling in for Naess and Gillette and pulled down several rebounds.

Mason Herr, Devon Connelly and Ben Reimers were excellent defensively in limiting San Gabriel Valley to only 22 points.

The Breakers, second-place in their division, will put their seven-game win streak on the line Feb. 13 when they take on first-place Ladera Ranch Gray.

— Reader submission

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