2-A BOYS : Laguna Beach Shakes Off Bishop, 73-62

Leading by two points with about four minutes remaining, Laguna Beach High School was finally able to shake a quick and determined Bishop team Tuesday night, taking a 73-62 victory in the Southern Section 2-A playoffs at San Clemente High school.

Guard John Trevino began the 15-6 closing run with a 10-foot shot with 3 minutes 22 seconds remaining, then made another 10-footer in the key to give the Artists (21-5) a 62-56 lead. Josh Borella, who had a game-high 28 points, made three of four free throws and Trevino drove the lane, took a pass from Brady Butcher and scored to give Laguna Beach a 67-57 lead with 1:55 left.

With 1:32 remaining, Dain Blanton took a lob pass and scored on a layup to give the Artists a 12-point lead and put the game out of reach.

“Josh did a good job helping to break the press,” Laguna Beach Coach Ed Bowen said. “We can break a press easily. And Trevino went in there and got some points when we needed them in the fourth quarter.

“It took us longer to win tonight then I thought it would. They (Bishop) play tough--they’re good athletes. And after a trip like that, that must be hard.”

Bishop, which traveled more than 300 miles, led, 18-14, after the first quarter. But Laguna Beach came back and took a 23-22 lead with 4:41 left in the half.

A spurt late in the second quarter, led by Borella’s nine points, gave Laguna Beach a 36-29 halftime lead.

Bishop (15-10) fought back to go ahead, 51-49, early in the fourth quarter, but a 15-footer by Blanton with 5:54 left gave the Artists the lead for good, 53-51.

In the 2-A:

El Segundo 80, Orange Lutheran 63--Despite shooting 51% (23-45) from the field, Orange Lutheran fell at West Torrance High.

El Segundo (15-13), which made 30 of 53 field goals for 57%, was led by Scott Panfil’s 26 points.

Sophomore guard Luke Aucoin’s three-pointer on the opening possession of the second quarter gave the Lancers (16-11) a 19-18 lead. But Panfil scored the game’s next six points on consecutive three-point baskets, and El Segundo led the rest of the way.

With 12 first-half points on six-of seven shooting, junior center Brian Bedord kept the Lancers close and they trailed 35-31 at halftime.

But Panfil scored 15 third-quarter points, mostly on mid-range jump shots, to give El Segundo a 58-48 entering the fourth quarter.

“We let them have their shots in the second half,” said Bedord, who finished with 21 points. “It was just bad defense.”