Laguna Beach Proves It Can Win a Title

Laguna Beach Coach Brett Fleming questioned the character of his team during a fourth-quarter timeout in the Artists’ game Friday at University.

The Artists trailed by four points with a little more than four minutes remaining in a battle for a share of the Pacific Coast League boys’ basketball title.

“University has more heart than you do,” Fleming told his players. “How much do you want this?”

Well, the Artists responded by making seven of 10 free throws to pull out a 61-58 victory.

The victory marked the first time in at least 30 years that Laguna Beach (19-6, 7-3) has won even a share of a league title, Fleming said.

“During that timeout, coach told us how hard we had worked all year and wanted to know if we wanted the win more [than University],” guard Sean Donnelly said. “I think we put it all together at the end of the game.”

University, which held its biggest lead at the end of the third quarter, 47-41, didn’t come away empty-handed. Even in defeat, the Trojans (16-9, 7-3) finished atop the league standings for the first time in school history, Coach Mike Dinneen said.

And defending league champion Laguna Hills made it a three-way tie by beating Estancia Friday. Each will be playing in a different division when the Southern Section playoffs begin next week, so Fleming said a playoff to determine berths is unnecessary.

After reserve Chris Sakae made two free throws to pull the Artists within two points in the fourth quarter, Travis Hanour scored on a wide-open layup off a pass from Jesse Obrand to tie the score, 50-50, with 2 minutes 30 seconds left.

Kurt Beimfohr’s left-handed six-foot baseline jumper gave Laguna Beach a two-point advantage, then Obrand made it 54-50 with 1:46 to go on his driving shot.

After a University turnover, Hanour sank two free throws with 32 seconds left to make it 56-50. Sean Donnelly made four more free throws over the next 24 seconds to help hold off the Trojans.