Costa Mesa stuns Laguna Beach
LAGUNA BEACH — For historical reference, the Costa Mesa High boys’ basketball team had its coach, Phil Weber, to ask about the last time the Mustangs beat Laguna Beach.
It was nine years ago. Weber was there. He suited up for Costa Mesa.
These days, Weber is in his first season in charge of his alma mater. And on Wednesday, he led Costa Mesa to its first win against Laguna Beach since his senior season in 2006-07.
The finish in this one was just as exciting as the one Weber was a part of as a player. The programs played in another down-to-the wire one-point game.
This time, Chris Calderon lifted the Mustangs to a 55-54 come-from-behind upset at Laguna Beach, helping them move into a first-place tie with the Breakers in the Orange Coast League.
Calderon hit the game-winning shot, a five-foot jumper in the paint with six seconds left, and he stole the ball with two seconds left, handing Laguna Beach its first setback in league. The Breakers and Mustangs are both 6-1 in league with three games left.
“We have the Battle [for] the Bell Friday [at archrival Estancia], but we wanted this way more because this is a league championship game,” Calderon said. “We’re trying to take care of business.”
Calderon came through for the Mustangs (14-11 overall), finishing with 20 points, 11 coming in the fourth quarter. The senior guard made five of seven shots in the final eight minutes, snapping the Mustangs’ 24-game losing streak to Laguna Beach.
Calderon’s final shot gave Costa Mesa its first lead since the 6:44 mark in the second quarter. He got a chance to put Costa Mesa ahead after Laguna Beach turned the ball over late.
The Breakers (18-6 overall), ranked No. 9 in the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA poll, appeared on their way to sealing the game. After Costa Mesa’s Nico Dasca hit a three-pointer, cutting Laguna Beach’s lead to 54-53 with 28 seconds to go, the Mustangs called a quick timeout to go over their defensive strategy.
Laguna Beach, with 25 seconds on the clock, inbounded the ball, and quickly moved the ball up the court for a fastbreak opportunity. Isaac Wulff gave Nick Rahder a nice pass to the right for an easy layup, but Rahder lost the ball, seeing it bounce out of bounds with 20 seconds remaining.
“Nothing but a layup,” Laguna Beach Coach Bret Fleming said. “If it was uncontested on first option, [we] will take the layup. Otherwise, they had to commit basically three or four fouls before we got into the bonus. We got the transition and kind of ended up two-on-one and kind of made a mistake by not pulling [the ball] back out.”
Laguna Beach’s turnover kept the Mustangs in it, and the visitors wound up stealing the game. For the first time since Feb. 7, 2002, Costa Mesa prevailed at Laguna Beach.
The Breakers have been impressive at home, as well as in league. They won the league title every season since its debut in 2006-07, except for last season, when Godinez claimed the crown.
“It was a close game when we played [the Breakers] at home [and lost, 60-51, on Jan. 13],” said Weber, whose team also suffered a 60-20 loss to Laguna Beach during a game in the Godinez tournament on Dec. 5. “But this means a lot to us, just because it’s here and we’re tied for first in league.
“It’s going to be a tough three games coming up. Godinez is still tough. Estancia, you know how it is [when we play the Eagles in the Battle for the Bell]? Kids just show up and play that game. Saddleback, [it] kept it pretty close over there. It will be nice to have those last two games [next week against Godinez and Saddleback] at home.”
Weber is trying to guide Costa Mesa to its first league championship since the 2005-06 season, when it was a member of the Golden West League.
The Mustangs have the talent, with Calderon, Mason Tufuga, who had four points, seven rebounds and four blocks against Laguna Beach, Calvin Ko, Dasca and Nabeel Salameh starting, and Dino Pepic (10 points) coming off the bench, to win out and finish on top.
Costa Mesa found a way to hang around at Laguna Beach. The three-pointer helped the Mustangs, who made nine of 22 from behind the arc. Calderon had a three in the fourth, as did Pepic and Dasca.
Even though the Breakers had four starters in double figures, Blake Burzell (21 points), Wulff (11), Rahder (10) and Darin Richardson (10), they couldn’t hold off the Mustangs.
“I’m hoping someone else can come and give them a good game like tonight,” Weber said, referring to the Breakers’ final three league opponents, Saddleback, Estancia and Calvary Chapel. “But we’re OK with sharing [first].”
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Orange Coast League
Costa Mesa 55, Laguna Beach 54
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Costa Mesa 9 – 13 – 13 – 20 — 55
Laguna Beach 12 – 19 – 9 – 14 — 54
CM – Calderon 20, Dasca 11, Pepic 10, Ko 6, Tufuga 4, Salameh 4.
3-pt. goals – Calderon 2, Dasca 2, Ko 2, Pepic 2, Salameh 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
LB – Burzell 21, Wulff 11, Richardson 10, Rahder 10, Jones 2.
3-pt. goals – Burzell 3.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
