Delino’s 44 points carry Trailblazers

Mike Sciacca

Brian Delino saved one of his best scoring games for last.

In the fourth-place game of the 2002 Junior Basketball League season

Tuesday night, Delino burned the nets for 44 points. His team, the

Trailblazers, needed every one of those points, too, as they held on to

defeat the Rainbows, 77-75, at Laguna Beach High.

The tournament continues throughout the week with the third-place

game, followed by the championship game still on tap.

First-round play in the double elimination tournament began with the

top seeded Blue Devils advancing to the finals by scoring a 47-42 win

over the second seed Clippers.

Bobby Monroe scored 21 points to lead all scorers and Brendan Finnerty

and Spencer Harrell each added eight points as the Blue Devils improved

to 10-3 overall.

Ryan Arthur scored 15 points and Jonathan Begay chipped in with nine

for the Clippers, who fell to 9-4 overall and were bumped into the

loser’s bracket in the double elimination tournament.

The teams, who shared the regular season championship, were tied at

the half, 19-19.

The Bruins, after being upset in the first round by the Trailblazers,

67-65, stayed alive in loser’s bracket play by scoring back-to-back wins.

First, they prevailed over the Lakers, 60-47. The Bruins (8-6) then

took care of the Rainbows, 68-52.

Christopher Hyden paced the Bruins’ two wins with 39 points. Garrett

Preston had 35 points in the two games, and Sam Palfreyman scored 24.

Travis Grogan scored 23 points for the Lakers (6-8) in the 60-47 loss

to the Bruins, and Nat Weaver paced the Rainbows in their 68-52 loss.

Weaver also scored 20 points, teammate Kevin Clark poured in 21 more

as the Rainbows (5-9) knocked the Trailblazers from title contention with

a 67-42 triumph.

The Trailblazers’ Maras Harriston led all scorers with 25 points.