Prep Basketball : Pacific Coast League Basketball : Laguna Hills Powers Its Way Into Playoffs With 63-49 Win

If Joe Reid, Laguna Hills High School basketball coach, caused any temporary hearing loss to nearby fans Friday night, please excuse him. Reid was just trying to get a point across to his Hawk players.

“POWER!” Reid screamed throughout the game. “POWER! I want more POWER! “

Translation: Reid wanted to see only fast-break, full-force, drive-in, wipeout basketball.

Laguna Hills delivered, defeating Trabuco Hills, 63-49, in a Pacific Coast League game at Laguna Hills.

Laguna Hills (15-10, 7-3) will enter the Southern Section 2-A playoffs as the league’s No. 2 representative.

For Trabuco Hills, the loss eliminated any chance of a playoff spot. The Mustangs, who were the No. 2 Pacific Coast League playoff entrant last year, finished at 13-11 and 4-6.

Although Laguna Hills spent the game’s first two minutes in turmoil--it turned the ball over twice and missed an easy layup--the Hawks pulled together soon after.

Hawk guard Chris Sheff scored eight points--all on off-balanced drives--in the first quarter to lead Laguna Hills to an 18-13 first-quarter lead.

In the second quarter, Laguna Hills forced five turnovers and scored off of each one. Laguna Hills outscored Trabuco Hills, 19-8, for a 37-21 halftime lead.

Trabuco Hills began to rally in the third quarter. John Barnes and Teddy Colburn each hit a three-pointer, and center Rick Swanwick added six points helping the Mustangs to close within nine (45-36) at the end of the third quarter.

But Laguna Hills, led by Sheff and guard Rick Kawada, took over in the final quarter.

Sheff scored 10 straight points on drives through traffic. drives. Kawada was 6 of 6 from the free throw line and provided Sheff with two assists.

Four players--Sheff (20 points), Mike Smedes (14), Kawada (11 points, 12 assists) and Trent DeVreugd (10)--scored in double figures for Laguna Hills.

Swanwick scored a game-high 21 points and Barnes added 17 to lead Trabuco Hills.

In other Pacific Coast League games:

Woodbridge 68, Laguna Beach 46--Adam Keefe scored 22 points and Robb Lee added 12 to lead Woodbridge, which took its starters out after three quarters, at home.

Woodbridge, the Pacific Coast League champion, finished the regular season at 19-5 and 10-0. Laguna Beach finished third at 8-13 and 5-5.

Woodbridge went 10-0 in league play on the varsity, junior varsity, sophomore and freshman levels this season.

Costa Mesa 64, Orange 61--Costa Mesa finishes 6-17 overall, 3-7 in league for fifth place. Orange (4-18, 1-9) finishes sixth.