Winter Sports Update

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Girls Polo Poised for Playoff Run

Melina Masson leads Breakers into CIF playoffs, Laguna’s 12th consecutive appearance. Photos by Robert Campbell

Laguna (20-7) has been playing their best polo in the program’s history and appear ready for their first playoff run in the highest rated playoff division. Laguna, seeded fifth and ranked No. 1 in Orange County opened play this past Wednesday and is expected to advance to today’s quarterfinal match most likely with Newport Harbor (22-5), seeded fourth in the playoffs and third in the county. This match will be at the Laguna Community Pool. Breakers have not faced the Sailors this season. The Tars hold a 4-0 series advantage.

The winner should meet Dos Pueblos, the number one seed, defending champions and holders of a 63 match win streak through the end of the regular season. That semifinal match will be Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the Woollett Center next to Irvine High School.

Last week the Breakers wrapped up their regular season with a 23-2 win over Saddleback at the local pool. Twelve different Breaker players scored for Laguna as the team has used JV players all league season to help keep the scores down. Only Godinez was able to keep Laguna under 20 goals this league season. Laguna has won all 19 league contests since the conference was formed in 2007.

On Friday, the Breakers defeated Santiago/Corona, the # 3 D-II squad 10-3 as Yoshi Anderson scored three goals, Alia Manetta and Melina Masson each scored twice in the victory. Breakers have now won at-least 20 games a season for 11 years in a row. Breaker defense is giving up only an average of 5.5 goals per game, lowest of the past eight seasons.

Boys Basketball Earns a Playoff Slot

No. 32 Cole Kesler’s 15 points led Laguna to a comeback win over Saddleback last Friday. Breakers won the league title, finishing 16-9. Photos by Robert Campbell

Coach Bret Fleming’s squad (16-9) entered the Southern Section CIF Division IV-A playoffs this past Wednesday,  hosting Carpinteria (14-10).  Breakers are 2-0 all-time with the Warriors with in-season tournament wins in 1987 (43-37) and 1990 (89-54).

Should Laguna prevail, they would face the winner of eighth-ranked Whittier Christian (20-7) or Workman (13-12) tonight, Friday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. at Dugger Gym. Quarterfinals are slated for next Tuesday with top-ranked Oaks Christian (19-7) as a probable opponent for the second round winner with the site to be determined by a coin flip.

This is Laguna’s 27th trip to post season play. Breakers’ teams have made four trips to the finals, defeating Hemet 53-46 in 1953 and Santa Clara 58-54 in 1962, and losing to El Segundo 63-61 in 1963 and to St Joseph’s/Santa Maria 70-68 in 1990.

Fourteen of Fleming’s 16 teams have qualified, but most have not advanced past the second round since 1992.

Regular season ended on Wednesday Feb. 10, as Laguna rallied from a 9-0 deficit to spoil Saddleback’s senior night 45-37 behind Cole Kesler’s 15 points and brother Tyler’s 13.  Breakers outscored the Roadrunners 12-9 to finish the first quarter then held the home team to three points in the second period to take a 22-21 lead into the intermission. Saddleback stayed with Laguna until early in the final period before the Breakers pulled away for the league win.  Laguna holds a slim 16—15 edge in the series history.

Regular season scoring leaders: Tyler Kesler – 207 points, Jake Dalke – 203 points, Tyler Masukawa – 191 points, Derek Reigel 166 points, Cole Kesler 159 points, Brandon Lewis 149 points.

Girls Hoop Squad Also in Playoffs

Stand-out No. 11 Lola Cowie helped the Breakers to their second best season in 30 years. Photos by Robert Campbell

Laguna girls basketball squad (12-9), led by seniors Emily Writer, Laguna’s all-time scorer, and Samantha Garner, the rebound and block shot queen, concluded the best season of the last four years. The duo’s supporting cast includes Lola Cowie and Holly Battle, who contributed in many ways to the squad’s success. Cowie, a sophomore, is the team’s three-point shot leader who has come on strong in the league season where Breakers won five of their past six games.

Laguna has enjoyed their second best season of the past 30 years, but faced a tough opening game for the Division IV-A playoffs traveling to second seed St. Anthony (14-11) in Long Beach this past Thursday. The winner advances to the second round on Saturday, facing either South Pasadena (16-8) or Costa Mesa (12-14). The Mustangs hosted South Pasadena yesterday.

Coach Jon Hendrickson is completing his fourth season with the Breakers, already tying the career coaching record for league wins, and is second in overall career wins with 32.

Regular Season Statistical Leaders

Points: Emily Writer, 408 points, 19.4 average, Sam Garner 255 points, 12.1 average

3-Point Shots: Lola Cowie 29, Emily Writer 20

Free Throws: Writer – 148; Garner – 39.

Rebounds: Garner – 260, Writer – 151, Battle – 76, Cowie – 60, Even – 37

Assists: Writer – 55, Holly Battle – 39, Cowie – 34, Garner – 32

Blocked Shots:  Garner – 133, Writer 26

Steals: Writer – 42, Garner – 35, Battle – 26

Emily Writer career totals: 85 games: 1,552 points – 18.3 average

Samantha Garner career totals: 80 games, 784 points –  9.8 average, 707 rebounds,272 blocked shots

Winter Sports League Finishes

WINTER 2011 Varsity Junior Varsity Frosh-Soph
Boys Basketball Laguna Beach Godinez Laguna Beach
Girls Basketball Estancia Godinez Godinez
Boys Soccer Godinez Estancia & Godinez Godinez
Girls Soccer Estancia Calvary Chapel
Girls Water Polo Laguna Beach Costa Mesa

How Laguna Finished:

WINTER 2011 Varsity Junior Varsity Frosh-Soph
Boys Basketball 1st 4th 1st
Girls Basketball 3rd no team 2nd
Boys Soccer 5th 5th 3rd
Girls Soccer 5th 4th
Girls Water Polo 1st no team
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