By Frank Aronoff | LB Indy
Girls Water Polo (4-0)
Makenzie Fisher missed the Mater Dei match with another USA Water Polo commitment for the World Cup qualifying tournament and sister Aria Fischer, the squads leading scorer after three games was out due to a recent tonsillectomy. The high flying Monarchs tested the depth of the Laguna bench as the Breakers took three quarters of play to get rolling, out scoring Mater Dei 3-1 in the final seven-minute quarter to win 8-7.
The match was well played defensively by Laguna but the Breakers were unable to take advantage of any of their six-on five opportunities to score while the Monarchs (6-1) scored on five of eight Laguna exclusions. A number of times Laguna fell down by two goals but battled back to stay in the match. Once rolling in the fourth period, Laguna looked unstoppable with pin-point passing and shots. The final score came with over three minutes remaining as Natalie Selin scored on a fast break. Holly Parker was solid in the cage for the second half with 11 saves while Jenna Knott record three in the first half that ended tied at 3-3.
Overall, Taylor Julson led with three goals, Ally Jochim and Selin added two each. Cora Borkovec scored one and added an assist and two steals. Also contributing were Haley Evans with an assist , steal and Bella Baldridge with a pair of assists and steals. The scores by Jochim and Borkovec came at key times to stop Mater Dei from controlling the match.
Breakers are off until Dec. 31 when Makenzie Fischer will rejoin the squad against San Clemente, 11 a.m. at the Capistrano Valley HS pool. Laguna will face then tough competition on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 3-4 at the Newport/Santa Margarita Holiday Cup. Breakers are top seed in Group B opening Friday, Jan. 3, at 8:30 a.m. against Carlsbad at Santa Margarita CHS pool. Should the seeding hold, they would play the winner of the Riverside Poly – Edison match at 1:55 p.m., then Corona del Mar on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 11:45 a.m. at Newport Harbor. Newport and Foothill are the top seeds in Group A.
Boys Basketball (8-3)
In the finals of the 32nd Annual Irvine World Tournament, Laguna almost pulled off the upset of their season, but ultimately lost 41-37 this past Saturday, Dec. 21, to the second-best team in the county, El Toro, of the South Coast League. Breakers behind Noah Blanton stormed with a big second quarter to a 29-14 lead at the intermission. The Chargers held their own clinic in the second half, holding Laguna to eight points while scoring 27. Overall, Blanton had 18 points; Josh Adams, 10; Alec Wulff, 7; and Isaac Wulff, 2.
Breakers trail their all-time series with El Toro 6-14. This was Laguna’s ninth appearance in the tournament, first in a title game. To get to the finals, Laguna defeated Beckman 64-48, survived Northwood 55-53 in overtime, and beat San Clemente for the first time in 21 years 72-65.
Against the Tritons on Friday, Dec. 20, at the Northwood Gym, Alec Wulff sparked the big second quarter outburst that sent Laguna into intermission with a 35-33 lead. San Clemente stormed back to lead entering the final period but the Breakers battled to defeat their long-time rival. Wulff scored 31 including three – 3-point shots, Adams had 16, Blanton 11, Brian Ludloff 10 and Matt Jones 4.
Laguna held a 45-14 series edge over the old San Juan Capistrano High that moved to their current campus in 1964 and was renamed San Clemente for the 1965 season – same students, staff, and league affiliation. As San Clemente, the now bigger school has gone 34-18 against Laguna including the Breaker win this year.
Up next for Laguna after Christmas are more challenging games in the 24th annual Holiday Classic in San Diego.
Breakers are in the Senators Division at La Jolla Country Day School opening on Dec. 26 against Francis Parker. Other teams in their 12-team bracket include Corona del Mar, Mira Costa, and Murrieta Valley.
Girls Basketball (7-4)
Laguna picked up two more non-conference wins last week first defeating Anaheim 56-35 in the Breakers home opener at Dugger Gym on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Jackie Cenan scored 24 points and Alexandra Lewis added 11 points and Jane Wallin 10 in the win over the Colonists (7-5). On Saturday, Dec. 21, at Sage Hill, the Breakers set a school record going 22-0 in the first eight minute quarter on their way to a 57-12 win over the Lightning. Cenan again led all players with 23 points
Boys Soccer (2-4-3)
Breakers played a pair of matches last week, losing 3-1 to Aliso Niguel on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Wolverine campus. Laguna’s score came from Willy Wheeler off a cross by Mike Santana. On Friday, Dec. 20, Laguna tied Santiago 2-2 at the Garden Grove school’s field with Breaker goals by Harrison Gregory and Edward Willett. Freshman Blake Bunce substituted for an ill Dante Amodeo against Santiago.
Laguna is off until Jan. 8 when they host Saddleback Valley Christian. League play opens Jan. 15 at Saddleback, the defending CIF champions. Breakers are in the Max Preps tournament this week and then are off until Jan. 10.
Girls Soccer (2-3-2)
Laguna defeated Irvine 1-0 in a match played on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at the loser’s field. Breakers came back on Thursday, Dec. 19, to battle San Juan Hills to a scoreless tie. Against the Stallions, Maddy Christiansen, Emma Barker, and Paige Vitolo combined for six first half shots on-goal. Kyle George recorded her third shutout of the season.
Laguna travels to the desert after Christmas for a pair of non-league matches and will host their annual alumni match on Saturday, Jan. 4, 11 a.m. at Guyer Field.
