BOYS’ BASKETBALL / PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Estancia Plays at Slower Pace but Wins

Estancia is most suited playing a fast-paced game, but Friday the Eagles showed they can walk with the best of them.

The result was a 54-46 victory over Laguna Beach in the Pacific Coast League boys’ basketball finale at Estancia High.

“Most teams try to slow the game up against us,” guard Zack Richardson said. “We’ve been facing that all year, so we were ready.”

With the victory, the fifth-ranked Eagles finish unbeaten in league play and boost their chances of being the top-seeded team in the Southern Section Division III-A playoffs.

Laguna Beach fell behind, 24-2, in their first meeting with the Eagles three weeks ago, but Friday the Artists kept Estancia from pulling off any big scoring runs.

Laguna Beach trailed by only four after the first quarter despite committing seven turnovers and was still close at halftime when the Eagles led, 25-17.

Estancia (23-3, 10-0) increased its lead to 33-20 midway through the third quarter and the Artists (15-10, 8-2) never got closer than eight the remainder of the game.

Richardson led Estancia’s balanced scoring with 13 points, Chris Candlish had 12 and Kevin Byrne 10.

Laguna Beach was led by Brandon Bloch with 13 points and Kurt Nelson and Damien Pugh had 12 each.