PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Blanton Guides Laguna Beach Past Woodbridge

It was a game that meant nothing, as far as league standings go. It was a game that either side could have taken lightly, because both teams have already assured themselves a spot in the Southern Section playoffs.

Still, Woodbridge and Laguna Beach high schools played Friday night as if it meant everything, the result being a 59-58 Laguna Beach victory that came down to the wire.

The guide wire, that is.

Trailing, 59-58, with two seconds remaining, Woodbridge’s Ryan Rauch attempted a high-arching 15-foot shot.

But the ball scraped the guide wire--the support wire that runs above the backboard--and despite a tip-in at the buzzer by Romalis Taylor, officials ruled the ball dead and Laguna Beach the winner.

“Big play, big call,” Woodbridge Coach Bill Shannon said. “Initially, I thought he called goaltending (on Taylor).”

The fact was that Laguna Beach--which trailed 45-37 entering the fourth quarter--did what it had to in the final period to win. Especially from the free-throw line, where the Artists made 11 of 12 free throws and were 22 of 28 for the game.

Dain Blanton, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, led Laguna Beach (19-5 overall, 8-2 in league) with 22 points, 10 in the fourth quarter.

Blanton’s layup off a steal by Brady Butcher and foul shot gave Laguna Beach a 57-55 lead with 2:08 remaining. Laguna Beach went to a full-court press, forcing Warrior guard Tim Kingsbury to get off an unbalanced shot which Laguna Beach’s Trevor Murphy rebounded and held until he was fouled.

Murphy made both ends of the one-and-one, boosting his team’s lead to 59-55 with 25 seconds left.

“This is great momentum for the playoffs,” said Laguna Beach Coach Ed Bowen, whose team will enter the 2-A playoffs as the Pacific Coast League’s No. 2 representative behind Trabuco Hills.

Trabuco Hills 70, Costa Mesa 64--Tim Manning scored 15 points to lead visiting Trabuco Hills (16-8, 10-0). Randy Kriech added 14 and Beau Hossler 13 points for the Mustangs. Costa Mesa’s Bret Diball had 24 points for Costa Mesa (2-19, 0-10).