Girls’ Basketball: Breakers open season at Staples Center

What a way to usher in a new season.

The Laguna Beach High girls’ basketball team begins its 2015-16 campaign Wednesday under the bright lights of Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, taking on Dana Hills in a noon tip-off. That game will launch a varied nonleague schedule that will also take the Breakers to Catalina and Kona, Hawaii.

Coach Mark Lewis has five starters back from a 17-win team that tied for second place in the Orange Coast League and reached the second round of the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The Breakers won 17 games despite not having starting guard/forward Jackie Cenan who missed the beginning of the 2014-15 season while recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery. The then-junior returned to the line up for the Orange Coast League season.

Lewis said Cenan, an all-league player, is “100% healthy and looking really strong in preseason.”

Another returning all-league player is senior forward Alexandra Lewis who led the Breakers and had an impressive season in which she broke Laguna program records for three-pointers for a game (10), in a season (76) and career (161 heading into the season).

“I think we will be competitive again this season and look to compete well in league,” Mark Lewis said. “Keys for this season will be health, commitment, dedication, defense, and valuing our possessions.”

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Laguna Beach Girls’ Basketball

Head coach: Mark Lewis (5th year)

Coaching staff: Mya Olivier

CIF Division: 4AA

Last year’s record: 15-12:

Last year’s league finish: 7-3 (tied-2nd place)

2015 CIF results: Reached second round.

2015-16 varsity: Alexandra Lewis (F, Sr); Jackie Cenan (G/F, Sr.); Elise Pontius (F, Sr.); Ashley Brown (G, Sr.); Amy Nygaard (G, Sr.); Nicole Davidson (G, Jr.); Rachel Kenney (F, Jr.); Marissa Lee (F, Jr.); Jasmine Banks (G, Soph.); Marisa Schatz (G, Soph.); Skye Wilson (G, Fr.); Sydney Mangus (G, Fr.); Lily Albritton (F, Fr.); Evelyn Kilburg (G, Fr.).

Returning starters: Alexandra Lewis (15.5 ppg., 10.3 rpg., first-team all-league); Jackie Cenan (11.1 ppg., first-team all-league; Nicole Davidson (second-team all-league); Rachel Kenney; Jasmine Banks.

The schedule: After opening the season Wednesday at Staples Center, the Breakers will compete at the Corona del Mar tournament and host the final day of the tourney Dec. 5. They then play in the Ocean View tournament, head to Catalina for a Dec. 18 nonleague game against Avalon, and play over the Christmas break at the WYBT Tournament in Kailua, Kona, Hawaii.

“We have an amazing schedule with some good quality games and tournaments and some once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” Mark Lewis said. “In addition to the basketball, this season’s schedule will also provide for long lasting memories and great team bonding opportunities.”

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Schedule

Wednesday: Dana Hills (at Staples Center), noon

Nov. 30-Dec. 5: at Corona del Mar Tournament

Dec. 7-12: at Ocean View Tournament

Dec. 16: Laguna Hills, 6 p.m.

Dec. 19: at Avalon, noon

Dec. 21: vs. Sunny Hills (North/South Challenge)

Dec. 26-Jan. 1: at WYBT Tournament (Hawaii)

Jan. 7: at *Godinez, 6 p.m.

Jan. 12: at *Costa Mesa, 6 p.m.

Jan. 14: *Saddleback, 6 p.m.

Jan. 19: *Estancia, 6 p.m.

Jan. 21: at *Calvary Chapel, 6 p.m.

Jan. 28: *Godinez, 6 p.m.

Feb. 2: *Costa Mesa, 6 p.m.

Feb. 4: at *Saddleback, 6 p.m.

Feb. 8: at *Estancia, 6 p.m.

Feb. 10: *Calvary Chapel, 6 p.m.

(*denotes league game)