Laguna NJB teams open with victories

The Laguna Beach girls’ and boys’ (No. 2) fifth/sixth grade National Junior Basketball teams opened their 2011-12 seasons last weekend with impressive victories.

The girls’ 5/6 team picked up where it left off last year by starting its new campaign with a 23-9 victory Saturday against Rancho Santa Margarita at Thurston Middle School in Laguna Beach. Sophia Lucas and Isabel Mansour led the scoring with nine and eight points, respectively, as Laguna was never seriously threatened.

Mansour also hit a three-point shot and Taylor Glenn turned in a tough defensive performance.

The boys’ 5/6 No. 2 team opened the season with a road win against the Laguna Hills “Arizona” team, 37-16, at Laguna Hills. Jackson Stillwell scored six points in the third quarter as Laguna began to pull away from a tie score at halftime, and Nicholas Lucas netted eight points in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Frankie Cotinola scored nine points for Laguna, which plays a doubleheader Saturday at Thurston.

— From Staff Reports