Teams Evenly Matched Despite Loss
A deep El Dorado squad stopped the Breakers’ hope for a repeat title at Guyer Field on Friday night, Nov. 3. The Golden Hawks had lost to #1 seed Chino, similarly to the Breakers (a failed 2-point conversion in OT) and were healthy entering the contest after hobbling through their season with key injuries. The Breakers entered the contest missing two key players in senior receivers Brock Donaldson and Merrick Vellmure, who were both injured late in the Westminster game last week.
El Dorado’s balance attack controlled the game tempo and limited Laguna to only six possessions for the entire contest. The visitors took the opening kickoff 65 yards in 10 plays, taking advantage of a Laguna penalty after an apparent fourth-down stop to continue their drive for a score. Breakers responded when Chase Tyson returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards, and Jackson Kollock scored on a short 4-play drive.
The Hawks’ second possession ended on the second quarter’s opening play, catching the Breakers in a surprise 32-yard touchdown pass.
Laguna had two possessions in the second period, both ending on downs deep in El Dorado territory. The Breakers missed on seven pass attempts, including a few that look close to becoming a big, game-changing play.
Laguna’s third-quarter possessions went nine plays ending on downs on the Hawks’s 29-yard line and later in the quarter when the Breakers drove to the El Dorado 15 only to see the drive stopped on an interception.
After that, the Breakers seemed deflated and gave up a final score to the Hawks midway in the final period.
Football Leagues Next Season
The 69 Orange County high schools outside of the 6-school Trinity League (Mater Dei, Santa Margarita, Orange Lutheran, JSerra, Servite, St. John Bosco) will be divided into 12 leagues for 2024 based on the Cal Preps computer rankings for the past two seasons—35% weighted on the 2022 final rankings and 65% on this year’s ratings. League “A” will have the top four schools, League “L” will have the bottom five. The remaining “B”-“K” leagues will each have six schools. After the loss last Friday, Breakers are 2023 #24 and currently looking at league “E” as of 11-5 (Orange, Aliso Niguel, Fountain Valley, Northwood, Dana Hills). The final 2023 rankings will be posted on Dec. 10, and with 25 of the 69 schools still active in the post-season, the final rankings remain a guess.
CROSS COUNTRY – Girls at CIF on Saturday
SSCIF D4 Girls XCC Rankings for 11-4: 1 – JSerra, 2 – Oaks Christian, 3 – Pallos Verdes , 4 – La Canada, 5 – South Pasadena, 6 – Harvard-Westlake, 7 – Laguna Beach, 8 – Orange Lutheran, 9 – Fillmore, 10 – Laguna Hills, 11 – Bishop Amat, 12 – Esperanza, 13 – Castaic
SSCIF prelims are on Saturday, Nov. 11. Finals are on Saturday, Nov. 18, both at Mt San Antonio College.
Breakers must finish at least seventh to qualify for the State meet on Nov. 25.
For more information, visit the girls’ website at www.lbxc.org and the boys’ at www.lagunabeachcrosscountry.com.
GIRLS TENNIS (18-3, 6-0) – to the CIF Finals
Laguna appears to be a team of destiny to capture the program’s 12th team CIF title, with the Finals scheduled for Friday, Nov. 10, at the Claremont Club, facing either Calabasas or San Clemente. To get there, Laguna will need to defeat Crossroads/Santa Monica, who played the favored Breakers this past Wednesday on the local courts.
Last week, the Breakers opened their run with a 10-8 win over Redondo Union – the 4th-place Bay League team- on November 1 at Laguna. The Sea Hawks only season losses were to the top three Bay League teams – all who made the Open Division playoffs. Jeccica MacCallum won her sets 6-0, 7-5, 7-0, as did sister Rebecca 6-4, 6-0, 6-1. Ava Chadha won two sets 6-4, 6-0, and the doubles groups lost four close sets but did win twice 6-3, 6-2.
On Friday, Nov. 3, the Breakers traveled to South High School in Torrance for an easy 16-2 win over the Spartans. In the Quarterfinals on Monday, Nov. 6, the Breakers defeated Temecula Valley 12-6 on the local courts. The MacCallum sisters won their sets, losing only one game in singles, while the doubles team of Izzy LoBosco and Kendyl Beresford swept their sets 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. Ava Chadha/Ryan Levine took two of three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
This is the 49th year of CIF-sponsored girls team tennis playoffs – Laguna has made the semifinals 21 times and are looking for their 14th finals appearance. Laguna last won in 2005 when they were the dominant program in Southern California.
Breakers defeated Crossroads/Santa Monica on Nov. 6 and will meet Calabasas in the D-2 Finals on Friday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Claremont Club in Claremont. It’s Breakers first finals since 2018.
BOYS WATER POLO (17-12, 3-3) – Breakers on a quest for the D1 title
Breakers opened their playoff run on Wednesday, Nov. 1, with a comeback 12-7 victory over San Clemente game played at Capistrano High School. Down 4-1 early, Laguna struggled to shake off the Tritons but eventually tied the contest on a Diego Audubert goal late in the second period. The Breakers dominated the second half, with Cade Anderton leading all players overall with five goals and Audebert with three. Tyler Swensen had eight saves in the cage.
On Saturday, Nov. 4, the Breakers easily defeated Damien 16-12 in the “home” quarterfinal contest played at Sage Hill. Laguna took a 3-1 lead midway in the first period and never was threatened by the Spartans (22-9). Eli Taub and Diego Audebert each had four goals, Cade Anderton had five assists, and Tyler Swensen had 10 saves.
This past Wednesday, Laguna was back in the semifinals against Foothill (17-10) in a rematch of last year’s semis won by the Knights 6-5. Max Schlaich and Gavin Goode each scored in overtime as Laguna defeated Foothill 12-11 to advance to the SSCIF D-1 Finals. This is Laguna’s first trip to the finals since 2016.. Laguna will face Huntington Beach or Mira Costa on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Mt San Antonio College in Walnut—Time TBA at www.cifss.org.
Laguna Fall NCAA Signings – Nov. 8
Cade Anderton, Water Polo, Pepperdine University
Sam Burchi, Baseball, Lewis and Clark University
Emerson Hensley, Water Polo, Brown University
Ava Knepper, Water Polo, University of Southern California
Jessica MacCallum, Tennis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Kate Parker, Equestrian, Auburn University
Ryner Swanson, Football, Brigham Young University
Tyler Swensen, Water Polo, Santa Clara University
WINTER SPORTS
Boys Basketball: The 90th season starts Nov. 13 at Ocean View Tourney
Girls Basketball: Breakers vs. Godinez, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m., Dugger Gym
Boys Soccer: Breakers vs. Northwood on Nov. 17
Girls Soccer: Breakers at Beckman on Nov. 30
Girls Water Polo: 2nd Annual Alumni Game on Nov. 22 at 3 p.m.
Wrestling: Breakers vs. Huntington Beach on Dec. 13
Have a note or question about Laguna sports? E-mail Frank at [email protected]. Looking for the 2023-24 High School schedules and scores? Check Laguna Beach High School on the Max Preps website.
 and were healthy entering the contest after hobbling through their season with key injuries. The Breakers entered the contest missing two key players in senior receivers Brock Donaldson and Merrick Vellmure, who were both injured late in the Westminster game last week.){kind=link}