Girls’ Basketball: Breakers continue to build

The resolve and fortitude displayed by the Laguna Beach High girls’ basketball team last year, could pay dividends for the Breakers in the upcoming 2012-13 season.

Last winter, the Breakers went through an 0-18 season. Seven players from that team return and second-year head coach Mark Lewis welcomes the return of one player from the 2010-11 season, plus eight freshman, to this year’s squad.

The Breakers get their first court experience together next week, when they go up against Crean Lutheran of Irvine in a 7 p.m. home scrimmage Thursday . The schedule also has the Breakers playing in holiday tournaments at Oxford Academy and Desert Christian. They start Orange Coast League play on Jan. 8.

The following is a capsule look at the Breakers:

Head coach: Mark Lewis (second year)

Staff: Clayton Olivier

2011-12 record: 0-18

2011-12 league record: 0-10 (sixth-place)

Returning players: Jane Wallin, Jr.; Madeline Knutson, Sr.; Kylie Even, Sr.; Kyra Humphries, Jr.; Kendra Overstreet, Jr.; Sarina Strickland, Jr.; Katie Acosta, Soph.

Newcomers: Mandi Wisbaum, Jr. (played on 2010-11 team); Alexandra Lewis, Fr.; Jackie Cenan, Fr.; Francesca Cecutti, Fr.; Sydney DeCarlo, Fr.; Murphy Thompson, Fr.; Marisa Mazza, Fr.; Sabrina Sanchez, Fr.; Ashley Brown, Fr.

Season opener: Nov. 28, vs. Connelly

Coach’s outlook: “This season’s team has a lot of promise,” Lewis said. “We have been practicing hard, playing lots of summer and fall basketball and growing as a team. We are obviously quite young and will have a number of freshman playing significant minutes. The year of varsity experience for the returners combined with the youthful energy and talent of the freshman class, is shaping into a nice team and should make for a fun season. I look for us to make some noise this season as we gain valuable experience with each game.”

*

2012-13 girls’ basketball schedule

Thursday : Connelly (scrimmage), 7 p.m.

Nov. 28: Connelly, 6 p.m.

Nov. 30: Sage Hill, 6 p.m.

Dec. 3-8: at Oxford Academy Patriot Tournament

Dec. 12: at Anaheim, 4 p.m.

Dec. 15: at Capo Valley Christian, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 20: Saddleback Valley Christian, 6 p.m.

Dec. 26-29: Desert Christian Academy Tournament

Jan. 8: *Saddleback, 7 p.m.

Jan. 10: at *Estancia, 7 p.m.

Jan. 15: *Calvary Chapel, 7 p.m.

Jan. 17: *Godinez, 7 p.m.

Jan. 22: at *Costa Mesa, 7 p.m.

Jan. 23: at St. Margaret’s, 6 p.m.

Jan. 24: *Estancia, 7 p.m.

Jan. 29: at *Saddleback, 7 p.m.

Jan. 31: at *Godinez, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4: at *Calvary Chapel, 7 p.m.

Feb. 6: *Costa Mesa, 7 p.m.

(*denotes Orange Coast League game)

michael.sciacca@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeSciacca