High School Sports Update

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2070

 

Boys Basketball (11-5)

Breakers completed their winter break run with a 64-48 win over Brethren Christian in the annual North-South Challenge held on Friday, Jan. 3 at El Toro High School. This was Laguna’s eighth year in this event and Laguna is now 5-3 for the series. Against the Warriors, Josh Adams led all with 20 points while Noah Blanton and Alec Wulff added 14 points each and Bryan Ludloff chipped in 10.

Before the New Year, Laguna participated in the 24th annual Under Armour Holiday Classic in San Diego. The Senator’s Division competition opened with Laguna losing to eventual champion Francis Parker (12-1) 55-35 in a contest played at La Jolla Country Day School. Alec Wulff was the squad’s top scorer with 14 points. The following day, Laguna defeated Semaihmoo Secondary just over the Canadian border in Surrey, B.C., 57-37 with Wulff again leading the scoring with 19 points against the Totems. On Dec. 28 the Breakers blew a 29-14 halftime advantage and fell to Corona del Mar 43-42 in another second half collapse similar to the loss to El Toro and Aliso Niguel. Breakers concluded their tournament play on Monday, Dec. 30, defeating Ironwood Ridge from the Tucson area 55-50 as Wulff hit for 24 points and Noah Blanton 18.

Laguna is off until league play. They open at Saddleback on Jan. 15 in their quest for an eighth straight league crown. Godinez (12-3) and Costa Mesa (10-5) will be their biggest challenges.

Girls Basketball (9-6)

Breakers competed in the Max Preps Tournament in the Coachella Valley last week, finishing sixth out of 12 schools. Play opened on Dec. 26 with Laguna defeating Indio’s Shadow Hills 63-39 in a contest played at Xavier Prep. Alexandra Lewis hit six, three-point shots as part of her 24 point total, tying Jackie Cenan for high point honors. The following day, Laguna fell to D-I power La Costa Canyon 88-46 at the College of the Desert.  Jane Wallin led all Laguna scorers against the Mavericks (11-3) with 18 points. Breakers defeated Mt. Si of Snoqualmie, Wash., 56-53 on Dec. 28 at Cathedral City High School. Jackie Cenan scored 26 points and Jane Wallin added 20 against the Wildcats. Breakers lost their final contest on Dec. 30 to D-IAA Downey (8-5) 59-40 in the fifth place game at Xavier Prep. Breakers and the Vikings were tied at halftime but Laguna could not prevail in the second half. Jackie Cenan hit for 19 points while Jane Wallin added 12. Laguna failed to convert a single three-point shot going 0-8 in the loss.

Final tournament standings: 1 – Bellview WA, 2 – San Juan Hills, 3 – La Costa Canyon, 4 – San Dimas, 5 – Downey, 6 – Laguna Beach, 7 – Mt Si, 8 – Dana Hills, 9 – La Quinta/LQ, 10 – Palm Desert, 11 – Samuel Robertson /Maple Ridge BC, 12 – Shadow Hills

Breakers host division rival St. Margaret’s on Friday, Jan. 10 at Dugger Gym with a 5 p.m. tipoff.

2014 League predictions: Defending league champ Estancia (13-2) looks even stronger this season and still remembers their lone conference loss last year at Dugger Gym. Breakers and Costa Mesa should battle for the other two playoff spots. Girls are in D-4A for playoffs.

 

Boys Soccer (2-4-3)

Breakers were off after Christmas and played this past Wednesday against Saddleback Christian. League play begins on Jan. 15 at the defending D-5, CIF champion Saddleback. The Roadrunners (0-8-3) have played a tough schedule and should never be taken lightly.

2014 League predictions: Godinez –Estancia look like solid bets for 1-2. Breakers have played like No. 3 more often than any of the remaining four schools for the final D-5 playoff spot. Laguna has wins over Trabuco Hills and Northwood.

Girls Soccer (3-4-2)

In their annual trip to the desert, Breakers lost at Xavier Prep 1-0 on Dec. 26 but came back the following day to defeat Indio 2-1.

Paige Vitolo scored the first goal against the Rajahs with an assist from Hannah Budroe. The second goal was by Summer Stanaland with an assist from Johana Abarca.

On Saturday, Jan. 4 the Alumni took a 2-0 win from the varsity. Colleges represented on the field for the 2014 Alumni Match were Bucknell, Azuza Pacific, Colorado College, Lesley University, and San Francisco State. Other colleges recently featuring  Laguna girls are Georgetown, Emory, Centenary, Redlands, UCSD, UC Santa Barbara,  and the University of Chicago.

This past week Laguna finished their non-league matches facing Woodbridge and Ocean View. League play opens on Tuesday at Saddleback with Estancia here on Thursday.

2014 League predictions:  The 2014 is wide open with all three playoff spots up for grabs and no clear favorites. The Orange Coast League is in D-4 of seven playoff divisions.

Girls Water Polo (9-0)

Breakers Capture Tournament Title in Historic Win

            The girls’ water polo team is already setting records.

The girls’ water polo team is already setting records.

Laguna captured their first major in-season tournament title taking down Newport Harbor 11-8 at the loser’s pool on Saturday, Jan. 4 to capture the Newport Harbor-Santa Margarita Holiday Cup.

The victory was only the fourth tournament title ever for the Breakers in 48 in-season tournaments and marked their first title in a tournament that featured Southern California’s top programs. The contest was also the first win ever over Newport in the Tar’s pool.

Laguna started slowly missing their first three shots but the ice was broken by playmaker Haley Evens who took things into her own hands scoring on a fast break at the 4:36 mark. Newport tied the score quickly, but back came Evans on another goal and it was 2-1 Laguna. Newport tied the score at the 2:01 mark with a great outside shot and took a lead on a power play at 1:03 left in the period. Makenzie Fischer recorded the first of five goals seconds later as the period ended 3-3.

In the second quarter, both teams went 2-2 as defense and missed opportunities. Newport scored on their first possession of the third period but Cara Borkovec tied it up off a rebounding shot to tie the contest at six each. Breakers then scored three quick goals in just over the final three minutes of the period to take a 9-6 lead. Newport snuck in a goal with 10 seconds remaining to cut the margin to two.

In the final period, the Sailors scored their final goal on their first possession but Laguna came right back on a Fischer score to make it 10-8. The teams traded possessions with Holly Parker recording some great stops before Makenzie added the last score with 1:42 remaining. Overall, Laguna converted four of five power plays to goals while Newport was three for six tries.

To get to the finals, the Breakers opened play on Friday at Santa Margarita’s pool, defeating Carlsbad 19-3. The Lancers scored on their first possession but it was all-Laguna after that. Fischer scored seven goals in the game. That afternoon in the same pool, the Breakers rolled past Riverside Poly 21-8 with Fischer scoring seven and Bella Baldridge adding six.  Saturday morning Laguna picked up their first win over Corona del Mar in four seasons, easily topping the Sea Queens 11-6 at Newport Harbor. It was 10-3 mid-way through the third period leaving little doubt to the final outcome.

Last week Laguna defeated San Clemente 18-4 in a contest held on Dec. 31 at Capistrano Valley’s full size pool. It was 9-0 before San Clemente scored on a soft lob shot and the hosts never threatened. Makenzie Fischer scored seven goals added two assists and three steals in her season debut.

Breakers will gain starter Aria Fischer (out due to tonsils) for the upcoming Foothill match and welcome transfer Mia Salvini (from Mater Dei) with the Saddleback match on Jan. 15. The Breakers will be full strength for the first time when they travel to Santa Barbara on Jan. 16 for a non-league match with the CIF’s Southern Section ninth-ranked Dos Pueblos in the 16-team Santa Barbara Tournament on Jan. 17-18. All the top programs will be at the Don’s tournament, which will be a great test for the Breakers.

Key games up next:

Friday, Jan. 10 vs. OC’s No. 4 Foothill, 3:30 p.m. at Laguna Community Pool

Friday, Jan. 24 @ OC’s No. 2 Newport Harbor, 3:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 31 vs. CIF’s No. 8 San Marcos, 3:30 p.m. at Laguna Community Pool.

There is no admission. Come out and support the team. 

 

Beach Volleyball Added to Breakers’ Sports Program 

The school board recently approved adding beach volleyball to the high school sports program. The fledgling activity will see the girls compete in the spring and the boys in the fall.

The Interscholastic Beach Volleyball league (IBVL) is administered through the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and was formed in 2012 with eight schools in the Los Angeles area. Last season the ranks grew to 26 schools organized into two conferences of three leagues each. Valencia won the 2012 title and Mira Costa captured the 2013 crown.

Laguna coach Raul Papaleo will hold tryouts starting Jan. 13 with season matches played on Saturdays.

At the collegiate level, the NCAA also added beach volleyball to its roster in 2012 and will begin hosting a national championship once 40 schools sign on, which could occur by 2015.

Southern Section CIF has yet to adopt the sport officially so CIF eligibility and transfer rules do not apply to the club sport.

 

 

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