LBHS WINTER SPORTS UPDATE
Boys Bas ketball (W9, L 13, 5-2 OCL) Breakers Rally – Still In Title Hunt
Tyler Masukawa in action last Friday night against the Eagles. Breakers are trying to win their fourth consecutive league title. Estancia jumped out to an 8-0 lead last Friday night at Dugger Gym and for a while looked like a team on course to capture the 52nd meeting between the two schools and more importantly, the 2010 Orange Coast League crown.
Breakers battled back in the second period to briefly tie the game at 17 but Estancia scored the next six points to carry a 24-18 advantage into the intermission. Eagles couldn’t shake the Breakers and Laguna finally took the lead in the final minute of the third period when Adam Selevan scored underneath to put the Breakers on top for the first time at 32-31. The Eagles tied the Breakers twice early in the fourth period on three-point scores but Laguna went ahead near the five minute mark to pull away for good, winning 54-43.
Adam Selevan, held scoreless in the first half, led all Laguna players with 17 points, Tyler Masukawa had 16 all scored in the final three periods, Jake Dalke 11, Derek Reigel 8 and Tyler Kesler 2 points.
The victory moved Laguna into a tie with Estancia (15-10, 5-2) for first place and the Breakers can capture a share of their fourth straight league title with a win last Wednesday night at Godinez. Estancia closes out their regular season at Costa Mesa. Since the Breakers and Estancia are in different CIF enrollment divisions, should Laguna win at Godinez, they will host their opening playoff game at Dugger Gym this coming week. Pairings will be announced on Sunday at www.cifss.org
Girls Basketball (W 5, L 18, 1-6 OCL) Writer Sets Season Record, but Laguna Fades Again
Emily Writer scored 30 points but Laguna could not overcome their slow start, falling 51-46 to Estancia last Thursday at Dugger Gym. Holly Battle added six points, Sam Garner five points and 16 rebounds, Karly Mac three points, and Grace Komoroczy two points.
Writer hit the 30 mark for the eighth time in her career and the points on last Thursday’s game helped her set the regular season scoring record for Laguna, topping Claire Bevacqua’s 491 points set in 27 games in 2005. Writer has 510 points in 23 games going into the season finale last Tuesday at Godinez.
Boys Soccer (W 4, L 15, T 1 0-7-0 OCL ) Breakers Look Sharp Despite a Loss
Boys soccer played a tough hard-fought match with longtime rival Estancia last Monday night at Guyer Field, losing 2-1.
The Eagles scored just before halftime on a penalty kick awarded to Estancia on a call that seemed to mystify those in attendance. Beakers tied the game early in the second half on a shot by Reece Barton (Fr). Estancia quickly responded moments later for the winning goal. Breakers had a number of corner kick and free kick opportunities later in the game, but were unable to earn a tie. The season concluded this past Wednesday at Godinez.
Girls Soccer ( W5, L 10, T 6, 2-2-3 OCL) Goal Sends Laguna to the Playoffs
Sam Kafer’s corner kick was mishandled by the Godinez keeper resulting in a goal for the host Breakers with only three minutes remaining in the match played on Thursday, Feb. 4 at Guyer Field. The 1-0 victory clinched third place for Laguna, sending the Breakers to the CIF playoffs for only the sixth time in the 29 seasons of girl’s soccer. Breakers previously qualified for the playoffs in 1987, 1991, 1997, 2000, and last season.
The Breakers regular season concluded last Tuesday at Godinez but the contest will not alter the final standings with Calvary taking first, Estancia second and Laguna third. After Kafer’s goal, Breakers almost scored again on another corner kick. The Grizzlies had one clear opportunity late in the first half but lost the goal on an off-sides call.
Coach Bill Rolfing is completing his sixth season with the girls and including five seasons coaching the boys, the former professional soccer player is now 89- 78-46 in 11 seasons at Laguna. Rolfing was the boys coach from 1979 through 1983. In playoff matches, Rolfing’s overall record is 5-2 entering this year’s postseason play. Pairings will be released on Monday with Laguna playing on the road either on Wednesday or Friday.
Girls Water Polo (W 17, L 8, 2-0 OCL) Breakers Take 8th at So Cal
Girls water polo faded to eighth after a 6-5 sudden death overtime loss to the county’s top squad, Los Alamitos, in the Friday night quarterfinals of the Southern California Championships, the sport’s last major inseason tournament of the year. Laguna went 2-3 over the threeday, 32-team event.
Play opened on Thursday, Feb. 4 at El Toro where Laguna crushed Capistrano Valley 13-2 with 11 different Breaker players scoring in the rout. Etiane Manetta was credited with 11 saves,. In the Thursday nightcap, Breakers edged San Diego’s # 1 team, Coronado, 11-10 in overtime. Jessica Shusko and Lexie Ross each scored three goals, Etianne Manetta had 10 saves and three steals. Shusko suffered from the physical match against the Islanders and missed the remaining tournament matches.
On Saturday, the listless Breakers were defeated by Santa Barbara 9-4 and Long Beach Wilson 10-7. Breakers concluded the regular season this past Wednesday hosting Costa Mesa and finish today (Friday) at Corona del Mar.
Playoff pairings will be released on Sunday, Feb. 14 and posted at www.cifss.org
Breakers should host a first round game on Thursday, Feb. 18, quarter finals on Feb. 20, semi final matches on Feb. 24 and the final on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Woollett Aquatics Center adjacent to Irvine High School.
CIF D-II Poll for Feb 8:
1 – Laguna Beach, 2 – Palos Verdes, 3 – San Clemente, 4 – Agoura, 5 – Montebello, 6 – Villa Park, 7 – Mission Viejo, 8 – Dana Hills, 9 – Tesoro, 10 – Westlake.
