Boys Basketball (11-6)
Breakers have concluded their non-conference portion of their schedule and will open league play Wednesday, Jan. 9, hosting Saddleback (0-13) at 7 p.m. at Dugger Gym. Laguna is the clear favorite to capture their seventh straight league title and their 14th overall but have only gone undefeated twice in league play going 10-0 in 1953 and 8-0 in 2009. The 79th season of Laguna Basketball is a balanced team led by seniors Cole Kesler (240 points) and Jake Dalke (176 points). Torrey Pines transfer Alec Wulff (169 points) has been a big addition. The 6-3 junior has been joined by another transfer, Josh Adams (6-3 junior, 93 points), a very improved Noah Blanton (6-5 junior, 146 points), and scrappy point guard Matt Jones (5-11 junior, 78 points).
On Dec. 22, Laguna surprised Corona del Mar 54-39 in the North South Challenge at El Toro. Alec Wulff led the squad with 22 points as the Breaker fans enjoyed the shocked look in the CdM section as the favored Sea Kings never threatened. Laguna is now 4-2 all-time in the Challenge but trail the Sea Kings 29-15 in their all-time series.
Last week Laguna finished third at the Coast Classic at Estancia playing four tough games. On Wednesday, Dec. 26 the Breakers opened the tournament with a 59-45 win over Newport Harbor for only the seventh win in the 41 meetings between the two schools. Breakers sealed the victory with a 20-6 third quarter outburst. Cole Kesler led the team with 14 points while Alec Wulff added 12 and Matt Jones 10.
On Thursday, the Breakers snapped a five game losing streak against Laguna Hills with a 60-43 win over the Hawks. Alec Wulff was the top scorer with 17 points in a series they trail 25-19.
In the tournament semifinals, Laguna was edged by eventual champion Clovis West 62-57 in a hard fought contest against the No. 3 school from the Central CIF section. The following day, the Breakers defeated Corona 67-60 handing the division I-AA Panthers only their second loss of the season.
Girls Basketball (12-1)
Records continue to fall for the girls this season as Laguna captured their second tournament with a 54-27 win over Palm Springs in the finals of the Maxpreps Holiday Classic Governors Division on Dec. 29 at Desert Christian Academy in Bermuda Dunes. Talented freshman Jackie Cenan scored 29 points for the winners and is averaging 18.8 points per game this season. Returning top scorer junior Jane Wallin is number two with a 8.2 scoring average and leads the team in rebounding.
Earlier in tournament play, Laguna defeated Coachella Valley 46-41, St. Margaret’s 66-50, and Desert Christian 58-5. The win over the Tartans was the Breakers first against them in the past seven meetings in a series led by Laguna that dates back to 1989. The two schools will meet again in a non-league matchup on Jan. 23 in San Juan Capistrano.
League play opens Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. at Dugger Gym with Saddleback. Breakers appear to have a good shot at a playoff spot with Estancia (8-6) and Costa Mesa (9-6) the big challengers this season for league honors.
Boys Soccer (5-0-1)
Breakers were off after a 4-1 win over Sage Hill on Dec. 21 and returned to action on Jan. 4 hosting Woodbridge in their final non-league match. League play opens on Wednesday when Laguna hosts defending league champion Saddleback, 6:30 p.m. at Guyer Field. The Roadrunners and Godinez are the league favorites with Estancia Laguna’s chief challenge for the third automatic playoff spot.
Girls Soccer (3-5-2)
Breakers open the defense of their league title this Tuesday when they host Saddleback (5-2-2)
at 5 p.m. at Guyer Field. The Laguna starting 11 this season includes six freshman and three sophomores. The squad concluded their non-league portion of their schedule with three post-Christmas matches. Laguna dropped a 2-1 loss to Xavier Prep on Thursday, Dec. 27. A late score gave the host Saints the win. On the following day, Laguna tied Indio 2-2 with scores by Summer Stanaland and Katelyn Carballo. This past Friday, Laguna played their best match of the season with a 2-0 victory over Woodbridge at Guyer Field. Audrey Pillsbury and Katelyn Carballo scored for the Breakers with Kylie George earning the shutout as keeper.
Girls Water Polo (7-3)
Laguna hopes to win their 24th consecutive league match when they travel to Costa Mesa on Wednesday, Jan. 9 to take on the Mustangs (8-6). Laguna should easily add their seventh straight league title this season.
Last week, Laguna went 2-2 to finish sixth at the Newport Holiday Cup. Play opened with the Breakers pounding the county’s 10th-ranked Edison 12-2 as Makenzie Fischer scored four goals and Lexi Del Toro added three. Breakers led 8-1 at the break and are now 16-0 in their all-time series with the Chargers. In the Friday evening contest, Laguna lost to the top-ranked team and eventual champion, Foothill, 9-5. On Saturday, the Breakers defeated Dos Pueblos 9-6 as Fischer and Del Toro each had four goals with Sidney Saxe having five steals. In the fifth place game, Santa Margarita took an early lead and coasted to a surprising 13-8 win.
Breakers will be in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions next weekend and will open their Santa Barbara weekend meeting Dos Pueblos on Thursday in a non-league pre-tournament matchup.
Season stats to-date
Top Goal scorers:
Makenzie Fischer 29
Lexi Del Toro 19
Brighid Burnes 19
Mackenzie Baldridge 17
Steals:
Sydney Saxe 29
Lexi Del Toro 23
Assists:
Lexi Del Toro 18
Mackenzie Baldridge 15
Makenzie Fischer 14
Photo courtesy of soccer Coach Bill Rolfing
