High School Roundup: Breakers compete in finals

The Laguna Beach High boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams have taken the next step in their respective seasons, each by qualifying for the CIF Southern Section Championships.

Both teams compete Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

The Laguna girls’ team placed second in its Division 4 heat Saturday at the CIF Southern Section prelims meet at Mt. SAC. The top five teams from each of the three division heats advanced to Saturday’s final.

Coach Steve Lalim’s squad is the No. 2 seed in Saturday’s final, behind defending division champion JSerra.

“We put very little energy into prelims,” he said. “Our goal was to qualify. We ran just hard enough to put ourselves in a position to qualify. Once our position was established after about a mile, we cruised. We want to make sure we are ready for finals.”

The Division 4 girls’ final race starts Saturday at 10:25 a.m. The top seven teams at finals, advance to the CIF State Championships Nov. 30 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

The teams competing in the girls’ Division 4 race, the ninth division race of the day, are: Laguna, JSerra, Big Bear, Crean Lutheran, Fillmore, Flintridge/Sacred Heart, Harvard-Westlake, La Reina, Mayfield, Nipomo, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Oaks Christian, Paraclete, San Marino, Templeton, and Xavier Prep.

Like the Laguna girls’ team, the Breakers’ boys’ team finished second in its heat at Saturday’s prelims.

“The boys ran exactly the way we planned,” said boys’ Coach Scott Wittkop whose team will run the Division 4 finals race at 9:25 a.m. Saturday. “We run prelims to qualify, only.”

Competing with Laguna for the Division 4 boys’ team title are: Big Bear, Crean Lutheran, Crespi, Don Bosco, Fillmore, Harvard-Westlake, JSerra, Morro Bay, Nordhoff, Oaks Christian, Salesian, San Marino, Santa Ynez, St. Bonaventure, and Xavier Prep.

The top seven teams from finals, advance to the Nov. 30 state championships.

—

Girls’ Volleyball

The Breakers had their 2013 season end on Nov. 14 following a 25-22, 25-21, 25-18 CIF Southern Section Division 1A second-round playoff loss at San Juan Hills.

Sabrina Stillwell had 14 kills and seven digs, Sage Patchell seven kills, Francie Holte 14 digs, and Aspen Rocha 20 assists for Laguna, which was the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

The Orange Coast League champion Breakers completed a 20-10 season.

San Juan Hills, the No. 2 team from the Sea View League, lost its follow-up match Saturday, as Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (Mission League No. 2) defeated the Stallions in five sets.

Top-seed La Salle (Del Rey League champion) and No. 3-seeded Harvard-Westlake (Mission League champion) will play for the Division 1A title at 5 p.m. Saturday at Santiago Canyon College.

—

CIF Preseason Rankings

Girls’ water polo: Laguna Beach (No. 1, Division 1).