Boys Basketball (20-6, 9-1) League Champions
Costa Mesa Rallies, Upsets Breakers 55-54
Laguna’s 24-game win streak over the Costa Mesa Mustangs ended on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Dugger Gym. The home team gave the visitors their first lead after the Breakers blew a double digit lead and mishandled their in-bounding possession with 25 seconds remaining. The plan was to try a fast break opportunity, but Nick Rahder lost control of the ball past the end line giving Mesa a chance with 20 seconds remaining. The Mustangs worked the clock with precision giving the visitors the victory – their first at Dugger Gym in 14 years. Breakers still dominates Costa Mesa in the all-time series 59-22.
Costa Mesa’s hopes of sharing the league title with Laguna ended this past Tuesday, Feb. 9, when Godinez prevailed 52-48. The same day, Laguna was dismantling Estancia 71-31 to clinch at least a tie for the 2016 league crown. At Estancia, Darin Richardson led all players with 23 points including four three-point shots. Last Friday, Feb. 5, Laguna had a similar result defeating Saddleback 55-28 in the Roadrunner gym. Laguna hit 10 three-point shots with five by Richardson, four by Isaac Wullf and a shot by Owen McMurray.
Breakers closed out the regular season this past Thursday, Feb. 11, hosting Calvary Chapel (9-15, 3-6). A Laguna win would give the Breakers the outright 2016 Orange Coast League title, their ninth in 10 years. Overall Breakers have won 15 titles in 82 seasons of basketball,
CIF Rankings for Division 4AA (2-8) : 1 – Orange Lutheran, 2 – Alemany, 3 – La Canada, 4 – Cantwell Sacred Heart, 5 – Harvard Westlake, 6 – Notre Dame Sherman Oaks, 7 – Serra/Gardena, 8 J Serra, 9 – Mission Prep, 10 – Laguna Beach, 11 – San Dimas, 12 – San Gabriel Academy, 13 – Atascadero, 14 – St Francis, 15 – El Segundo, 16 – Buckley
Girls Basketball (18-7, 8-1)
Laguna Stuns Estancia 45-30 in Epic Win
A team defensive effort shocked the three-time defending league champs (18-7, 8-1) on their home court Monday, Feb. 8, as Laguna frustrated the Estancia Eagles right from the opening tipoff, holding them to only two baskets in the initial period on 16 shots. The home team frustrations also resulted in early foul trouble as the visiting Breakers rolled to the win behind Jackie Cenan’s 17 points. Rachael Kenney had a season high 11 points while Alexandra Lewis added nine points including two key three-point shots. Marissa Lee scored four points, Jasmine Banks and Ashley Brown two points each. Coach Mark Lewis felt the key was the team effort on defense, which snapped Estancia’s 27 game league win streak.
Breakers concluded their regular season this past Wednesday, Feb. 10, hosting a tough Calvary Chapel (15-6, 5-4) for a chance to share only the second league title in the Laguna program’s 42-year history under CIF sponsorship.
Last Thursday, Feb. 4, Jackie Cenan scored 26 points to lead the Breakers to a 55-23 win over Saddleback at Bus McKnight Gymnasium on the Roadrunner campus. Midway through the game Cenan became Laguna’s all-time leading scorer, passing Emily Writer (1570 points, 86 games, 2008-11). Cenan had 1,579 points in 86 games entering Monday’s Estancia contest.
CIF Rankings for Division 4AA (2-8) : 1 – Harvard-Westlake, 2 – St Paul, 3 – St Monica, 4 – Marymount, 5 – Rosary, 6 – Duarte, 7 – Covina, 8 – Flintridge Sacred Heart, 9 – St Joseph/Lakewood, 10 – Lompoc, 11 – Foothill Tech, El Segundo (tie), 13 – Estancia, 14 – Notre Dame Sherman Oaks, 15 – Yucca Valley, 16 – Laguna Beach
