Breakers tighten up on defense

This past week proved to be record-setting for the Laguna Beach High boys’ and girls’ basketball programs.

Wednesday night at Dugger Gym, the boys’ team ran their Orange Coast League record to 5-0 and maintained their position atop the league standings by routing Godinez, 61-14. Breakers Coach Bret Fleming believes the 14 points were a program record for the least points allowed in a game.

The win also pushed Laguna to 17-5 overall and sets up a key home game at 7 tonight against Calvary Chapel.

“We came out and wanted to really work hard on defense, and I think we did that,” Fleming said of the Godinez win.

“We also wanted to share the basketball and not play as individuals. I was happy that we accomplished that, too.

“They (Godinez) are a young team without a senior class of players. It’s their first year in the league and it’s been a bit difficult for them. But they will improve.”

Eight Breakers scored, with Ryan Lawler topping the scoring chart with 12 points.

A Laguna win tonight over Calvary Chapel would give the Breakers no worse than a tie for their third-straight league championship. They hold a one-game lead over the Eagles (4-1) with three league games left on the schedule.

Laguna won, 43-35, at Calvary Chapel on Jan. 16.

Previously, the Breakers went on the road Jan. 23 and hammered Costa Mesa, 58-31.

Lawler canned four three-point shots and led all scorers with 21 points. ?

Girls’ Basketball

On a night when sophomore point guard Emily Writer went into the school’s basketball annals for most points in a single game, the host Breakers were able to defeat defending-league champ Costa Mesa, 78-57, on Jan. 22. It was the first Orange Coast League win of the season for Laguna.

“With nothing to lose, we decided that we were going to change our identity and play the entire game employing a full-court press,” Laguna Coach Jon Hendrickson said. “No matter where the ball was, we wanted to have two girls trapping and trying to cause turnovers.

“I figured if we were going to go down, we might as well go down swinging. Apparently, it was exactly what our team needed.”

In addition to a school single-game scoring record 51 points, Writer also collected 10 rebounds and had eight steals. Sam Garner poured in 22 points and hauled in 13 rebounds to lead Laguna’s attack.

“It was a great team effort from start to finish,” Hendrickson said. “Playing this way, we had to continually rotate girls in and out and that is what we did. The whole team scrambled and fought for every loose ball, dove on the floor and had a blast. Obviously, winning cures all ills.”

But the Breakers couldn’t sustain that success in its next league outing, falling to Godinez, 42-33, on Tuesday.

Garner led Laguna with 17 points and Writer managed just 11 after her record-setting night the game prior.