Boys Win League Champs
Laguna Seeded Sixth in D-4AA Playoffs
Breakers entered the 2014 playoffs the highest ranked public school in the division and opened play this past Wednesday hosting Don Bosco at Dugger Gym. Should the seeding hold, Breakers (21-5, 10-0) will face No. 11 Whittier Christian on Friday, Feb. 21, and third-ranked Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Last week, Laguna completed their second consecutive 10-0 sweep of league rivals with a 53-43 victory over second place Costa Mesa at the loser’s gym. The win was Laguna’s 23rd straight league victory and the 20th consecutive conquest of Costa Mesa since a 59-58 loss in 2007.
The game opened with Laguna taking a 6-0 early lead that was 35-24 at the Intermission. Mesa did a great job in the second half shutting down Laguna’s big three shooters, Alec Wulff, Josh Adams, and Noah Blanton to a total of eight second-half points.
Stepping up was senior Matt Jones who scored his varsity career high 16 points with a big steal in the final period along with two baskets and two free throws in the final stretch to seal the win.
Also key to Laguna’s success that night was senior Bryan Ludloff, who had a basket midway through the final period. Jones, Ludloff, and reserve player Garrett Wong became the first Laguna players to go 40-0 in boys basketball league play in 80 seasons of basketball at Laguna. They were 10-0 in frosh play in 2011, 10-0 in JV as sophomores, and 20-0 the last two seasons on varsity.
Breakers have only gone undefeated in varsity league play four times, 1952, 2009, 2013 and this season. Coach Bret Fleming is now 295-211 in 19 seasons at the helm of Laguna.
Girls Basketball (18-8, 8-2)
Breakers Finish Second – Enter D-4A Playoffs
On Wednesday, Feb. 12, Laguna held off host Costa Mesa 38-36 to finish second in the Orange Coast League and advance to the first round of the D-4A playoffs.
Breakers took an early lead off Jackie Cenan’s hot hand and a pair of three pointers from Alexandra Lewis and led 28-19 at the intermission. Breakers extended their lead to 35-23 in the final period before Mesa’s rally pulled within a point in the final minute.
Officiating was very uneven for both teams and hopefully a stricter application of the rules won’t catch the squad by surprise in the playoffs.
For the game, Jackie Cenan finished with 21 points, Alexandra Lewis added seven with 10 rebounds, Francesca Cecutti and Nicole Davidson scored four points, Jane Wallen added two points to round out the scoring.
Eighteen regular season wins is the second highest total in school history after the record 19 won last season. The eight league games won this season is the most in 39 years, last achieved in 1975 when Laguna went 8-2 to finish second in the South Coast League.
Laguna opened the playoffs this past Thursday, Feb. 20, hosting Archer School for Girls from Brentwood, the third place team from the Liberty League. If the Breakers prevail, they will face the winner of the Desert Christian/Lancaster at Cantwell Sacred Heart contest this Saturday night.
Boys Soccer (10-6-4, 7-2-1)
Laguna Poised for Playoff Run – Seeded 10th
Breakers faced Santa Monica’s Crossroads Thursday, Feb. 20, at Guyer Field in the initial round of the D-V playoffs. The winner would advance to the second round, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 25 most likely against seventh-ranked Baldwin Park, the Valle Vista League champion. This is the third consecutive season the squad has advanced to the post-season and Laguna is 28-12-2 in 15 playoffs previously entered. Laguna has won three titles all-time (1997, 1998, and 2002) and last made it to at-least the quarterfinals in 2009.
Last week the Breakers concluded their best league run since 2006 with a 2-0 win over Costa Mesa played at Estancia’s Scott Field on Thursday, Feb. 13. The scores came off penalty kicks with Chris Tellez converting in the first half and Zach Jacobs adding another one in the second half.
Girls Soccer (12-5-4, 7-1-2) League Champs
Breakers Seeded 10th in D-IV Playoffs
LBHS senior mid-fielder Johanna Abarca takes a shot on goal during the 0 to 0 tie with Costa Mesa on Wednesday, Feb. 12, the last regular game of the season. Girls’ soccer finished first in league and enters CIF competition this Friday, Feb. 21, 3 p.m. on their home field.
Like the boys squad, Laguna girls are seeded 10th in their playoff bracket and open at home this Friday, Feb. 21 against Chaffey (9-7-2) from the Mt. Baldy League. Should Laguna win, the second round is Tuesday and quarterfinals next Friday.
Last Wednesday, Feb. 12, the squad closed out the regular season with a disappointing 0-0 tie at last place Costa Mesa (5-9-10, 0-5-5). Breakers still set a season league win record with seven victories, tied the 1997 for season victories at 12 and set the overall season win percentage.
Coach Bill Rolfing, now in his 10th season with the girls, has captured two league titles with a 80-95-46 all-time girls record. Rolfing was also 46-30-20 in five seasons with the boys’ team from 1979-83.
Girls Water Polo (26-1, 4-0) League Champs
Laguna Quest for D-I Title Underway.
As expected, Laguna is the favorite to capture the 17th annual Division 1 Southern Section CIF championship that began this week. Should the seedings hold, Laguna will be facing Irvine or Canyon/Anaheim Saturday, Feb. 22, either at home or at the opponent’s pool. The semifinal battle will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Irvine High School’s Woollett Center with San Marcos or Los Alamitos the likely foe. Laguna has defeated the Royals twice this year but has not faced the Sunset League champion Griffins this season. The finals will be Saturday, March 1, at an as yet undetermined time. Last year, the match began at 6:30 p.m. Admission will be $7.
Last week, the Breakers wrapped up their eighth consecutive league title on Wednesday, Feb. 12, with a 23-1 victory over Costa Mesa at the local community pool. It was Laguna’s 32nd consecutive league win with the last loss in 2006 to Corona del Mar.
Early in the contest Laguna scored on five consecutive possessions in a 90 second span to set the tone for the league showdown. Cora Borkovec fired the first score followed by Makenzie Fischer and Natalie Selin. The game flow was interrupted when Haley Evans set a school game record, fouling out in the middle of the first period on a series of technical rulings due to miscommunication over the expiration of a standard 20-second exclusion foul. The shutout was lost with just over a minute remaining in the contest after an exclusion foul gave the Mustangs a six-on-five advantage.
Laguna 23, Costa Mesa 21
Goals:4 – M Fischer, 3 – Baldridge, Borkovec, 2 – A Fischer, Julson, Lucidi, Selin, 1 – Burnes, Jochim, Knott, Parker, Salvini
Assists: 4 – A Fischer, 3 – Lucidi, Selin, 2 – Baldridge, Borkovec, Burnes, Salvini, 1 – M Fischer, Jochim
Steals: 6 – A Fischer, 4 – M Fischer, 3 – Selin, 2 – Baldridge, 1 – Borkovec, Evans, Jochim, Julson, Lucidi
Saves: 7 – Parker, 4 – Knott
Milestones: Goals scored in a match ties for ninth, margin of victory ties for fourth, assists, third.
New regular season record – 25 season wins (old record 24 in 2009)
On Friday, Feb. 14, Laguna concluded their regular season with an easy 15-4 victory over El Toro at the Charger’s pool. The win extended the school record win streak to 17matches and the regular season victories to 26. Breakers lead the all-time series with the Chargers 9-4.
Laguna 15, El Toro 4
Goals: 4 – A Fischer, 3 – M Fischer, 2 – Borkovec, Burnes, 1 – Baldridge, Julson, Lucidi, Selin
Assists: 2 – Baldridge, Burnes, Evans, 1 – Borkovec, A Fischer, Jochim, Julson, Selin.
Steals: 2 – Baldridge, 1 – Burnes, Salvini, Parker
Saves: 8 – Parker, 7+ – Knott
Winter Sports – Lower Level Teams’ League Results
JV Boys Basketball – Co-champs with Godinez
FS Boys Basketball – second (tie)
JV Girls Water Polo – champs
JV Boys Soccer – fourth
FS Boys Soccer – fifth
JV Girls Soccer – champs
