Breakers ready for league
A busy but successful ending to the 2015 portion of its schedule has primed the Laguna Beach boys’ basketball team for the start of the Orange Coast League season.
The Breakers have had the week to prepare for their OCL opener, a road test Friday (7 p.m.) at defending league champion Godinez, and are coming off an appearance at the 26th annual Torrey Pines Under Armour Holiday Classic.
Laguna competed in the tournament’s Governors Division which included 16 teams, and went 2-2 overall. The Breakers defeated Brentwood in a tourney opener Dec. 26, 70-56, and Albany, 56-46, in their second game to reach the division semifinals. In the semis, they fell to Riverside Poly, 63-47.
The Breakers took on Sonora in the division’s third-place game and lost to the Raiders, 59-43.
“I thought we played pretty well in the tournament,” Laguna Coach Bret Fleming said. “We got off to a real good start by winning our first two games, but couldn’t close strong.”
Senior guard Darin Richardson led the scoring with 26 points, senior guard Isaac Wulff was right behind with 24 points, and sophomore forward Blake Burzell had 15 points, in the opening win over Brentwood.
“Brentwood is a pretty good team and we played well against them,” Fleming said. “We had some good contributions from several guys, and also in our win against a highly regarded Albany team.”
Burzell topped the scoring in the 56-26 win over Albany. Wulff had 11 points and Richardson and sophomore guard Charlie Rounaghi contributed eight and five points, respectively.
In the division semifinal with Riverside Poly, Laguna took a six-point lead through one quarter but the Bears took over from there en route to their 63-47 win. Burzell again led the way with 18 points. Wulff scored 15, and Richardson and senior center Nick Rahder had six points apiece.
“We had a good opening quarter but I thought [Poly] picked up their intensity, and we didn’t match it. In the second half, they rolled us in the third quarter to pull away.”
Burzell and Richardson both scored 13 points, Wulff had eight points and Rounaghi seven points, in the 59-43 loss to Sonora.
Poway won the Governors Division title by defeating Riverside Poly, 59-57, in the division final Dec. 30.
The Breakers went 11-5 overall, in the first month of the season.
“I feel like we are getting better,” Fleming said. “I still think, though, that there is a level of competitiveness that we need to reach. By that, I mean that when we play a team that may be bigger or more talented than we are, we need to rise to that level of play. I think our nonleague games showed our guys that.”
The Laguna program had held a firm grip for several years on the Orange Coast League championship until Godinez wrestled away that title last year. The Breakers, who had won the title seven consecutive years, get their initial attempt to take back that title when they face a Grizzlies program that last year won the OCL crown for the first time.
“I think our kids have a little chip on their shoulders that they didn’t win it last year,” Fleming said. “Most of the kids on this year’s team were on the team last year. They understand that in a 10-game league schedule, they need to be ready to play each night. I think they’re really looking forward to the start of this year’s race.”
The Breakers also are on the road for their second league game, a 7 p.m. tipoff next Wednesday at Costa Mesa.
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Girls’ Basketball
The Breakers completed their nonleague schedule last week with a trip to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. They took part in the World Youth Basketball Tournament, won their division’s title, and returned to the mainland with three victories.
The Breakers opened tourney play with three consecutive wins. First, they defeated a San Diego Canyon Crest Academy team (46-41) that had defeated the Breakers a year ago in the San Diego Holiday Classic, then knocked off Kohala (Kapaau, Hawaii), 34-28, and Kealakehe (Kailua-Kona), to win their division’s championship.
In their final game, the Breakers led much of the way against an Algester (Australia) team that played in a high division during the tournament, but ended up with a 32-27 loss. Senior guard Jackie Cenan led the way with 18 points.
The tournament started Dec. 27 and ran through New Year’s Eve.
“We did not shoot the ball well as a team, so that made it tough for us offensively,” Laguna Coach Mark Lewis said. “Defensively, we were pretty solid but we did a poor job of boxing out in the second half which allowed the Aussies to get numerous second and third chances which they began to convert.”
The 3-1 tourney run put the Breakers at 9-6 overall heading into the New Year and start of the Orange Coast League race.
The Breakers returned to Laguna Beach on New Year’s Day.
“Overall, it was an awesome experience,” Lewis said. “We played some good ball. We won the tourney. We went on some great excursions. Again, an overall awesome experience, one that I am sure will have lasting memories for all the girls and coaches, as well.”
The Breakers have some momentum heading into the start of their Orange Coast League season, having won six of their final seven nonleague games.
They began their OCL title quest Thursday against Godinez. The score wasn’t available at press time.
“I thought we did pretty well in our nonleague schedule,” Lewis said. “We let a couple games get away from us but overall, we played well against some pretty good talent. I hope these games have prepared us well for league.
“As for the OCL race, Estancia is the three-time defending champ, so the league title goes through them. Once again, I think the league will be similar to previous years and will be quite competitive throughout. To win a league title, teams will have to be on their game every night.”
The Breakers play two league contests next week beginning with a 6 p.m. game Tuesday at Costa Mesa. They play their league home opener at 6 p.m. Thursday hosting Saddleback.
