Laguna Hills Beats First-Place Team for Second Time

Laguna Hills, the defending Division II state champion that didn’t qualify for the playoffs this season, went down fighting Thursday.

For the second game in a row, the Hawks knocked off the Pacific Coast League’s first-place team. Their 59-41 victory over Aliso Niguel created a tie atop the PCL between the Wolverines and Costa Mesa.

Anne Brubriski scored 23 and had nine rebounds for Laguna Hills (7-15, 5-5), which tied for third. Erin Larson, the lone starter from last year’s championship team, had 11 rebounds and 12 steals.

Aliso Niguel, outscored 17-2 in the first quarter, is 14-11, 8-2.

In other Pacific Coast League games:

Costa Mesa 52, Laguna Beach 27--Kristin Chisholm scored 11 points for Costa Mesa (12-14, 8-2).

University 35, Estancia 34--Tied at 33, Liz Rocha (eight points) gave University (11-15, 5-5) the lead with 1:30 left. Estancia’s Francia Diaz (11 points) made one of two free-throws with a minute to go. Estancia is 8-17, 4-6.

In the Academy League:

Fairmont 31, Orangewood Academy 27--Katie Barstow scored 12 points for Fairmont (11-12, 5-4). Jamie Steiner (16 points) made a school record five three-pointers for Orangewood (2-18, 1-9).

In the Century League:

Foothill 49, Santa Ana Valley 43--Rebekah Cole scored nine of her 21 points in the third quarter as Foothill (10-16, 4-6) outscored host Valley, 15-6. Valley finished 5-18, 1-9.

Villa Park 68, El Modena 53--Missy Bynon (23 points, 13 assists) made five of six three-pointers as Villa Park (18-5, 9-1) won the league title.

In the Empire League:

No. 6 El Dorado 44, Cypress 29--Stephanie Patten scored 13 for champion El Dorado (22-5, 10-0).

Loara 59, Kennedy 50--Jessica Miles (19 rebounds) scored eight of her 21 points in the third quarter for Loara (16-9, 6-4). Alison Chow led Kennedy (16-11, 4-6) with 12 points.

In the Garden Grove League:

Garden Grove 37, Los Amigos 29--Katie Werdel had 19 points for Garden Grove (17-10, 9-3).

La Quinta 53, Santiago 48--Nadiya Aziz scored 17 points for La Quinta (7-16, 4-8). Sega Asiata scored 20 for Santiago (14-12, 6-6).

Pacifica 79, Bolsa Grande 41--Jaymee Pendergast scored 33 points and Diana Barreras added 15 for Pacifica (18-7, 12-0).

In the Orange League:

No. 1 Brea Olinda 86, Magnolia 33--Erin Kelly scored 22 points and Amanda Strum added 15 points and 15 rebounds for Brea (25-1, 10-0).

In the Sea View League:

No. 8 El Toro 71, Corona del Mar 41--Giuliana Mendiola scored 18 points and had seven steals for El Toro (24-2, 10-0).

Irvine 64, Newport Harbor 43--Lauren O’Hara’s 19 points and 11 rebounds led Irvine (16-7, 7-3).

Woodbridge 38, Santa Margarita 37--Bryn Riley scored at the buzzer as Woodbridge (14-12, 5-5) tied Santa Margarita (14-11, 5-5) for third place.

In the South Coast League:

No. 2 Capistrano Valley 71, Mission Viejo 29--Natasha Combs scored 16 points for Capistrano Valley (20-6, 9-1).

No. 3 San Clemente 67, No. 7 Mater Dei 59--San Clemente (23-4, 9-1) won a share of its first title as Colleen Turnbull scored 18 and Kelley Kruger a career-high 16 points. Mater Dei is 13-13, 6-4.

In the Sunset League:

No. 4 Marina 52, Edison 41--Natalie Nakase led champion Marina (22-4, 9-1) with 20 points. Christina Patterson scored 15 for Edison (20-6, 5-5).

No. 5 Esperanza 64, Fountain Valley 40--Leah Combs scored 20 and Beth Weidler had seven steals for Esperanza (18-8, 8-2).

Huntington Beach 60, Los Alamitos 59 (3 OT)--Kristin Geoffroy (34 points) made a free-throw with six seconds left in the third overtime, but Kelly Medlen’s layup at the buzzer gave Huntington Beach (13-14, 4-6) the victory. Medlen scored 18.