Laguna downs Irvine

With Bobby Monroe dominating play inside and Ian Butters scoring

from the outside, the Laguna Beach boys’ eighth-grade National Junior

Basketball team handed Irvine its first loss of the season, 61-49.

Undefeated Laguna raced to an 18-9 first quarter lead, only to see

Irvine use the three-point shot to battle back and forge a 29-29 tie

at the half.

Monroe and Butters accounted for 24 of Laguna’s 29 first half

points, each with 12 points.

Teammates Patrick Curran and Chris Hyden also got into the scoring

act.

Irvine continued its hot streak early in the third quarter as the

Hawks built a five point lead.

It was at that point in the game that Laguna’s defense clamped

down, and the offense went on a spurt of its own.

Laguna scored the final 11 points of the quarter and took a 46-39

advantage into the fourth quarter, with Brian Delino, Nathan Pickett

and Brennan Healy leading the scoring spree.

Playmaker Ty Fleming also had a hand in the comeback.

Laguna, now 3-0, will take on the Westminster Wildcats Sunday in a

5:15 p.m. tipoff at Laguna Beach High.