Laguna wins two in boys’ basketball

Mike Sciacca

After suffering a tough loss to Northwood High on the opening night

of the Pacific Coast League boys’ basketball race on Jan. 7, Laguna

Beach responded by winning its next two games.

The Breakers won at Calvary Chapel, 67-59, then won on the road at

Tesoro, 62-48.

The two wins put Laguna Beach at 2-1 in league play heading into

this week’s league clashes with University Wednesday and today at

Corona del Mar.

The Breakers trailed most of the way against Calvary Chapel but

outscored the host Eagles, 22-7, in the fourth quarter.

Senior Ivan Kovacevic scored a season-high 33 points and added 12

rebounds to his performance.

Nikola Nikolic added 12 points for Laguna Beach.

“I felt that we didn’t come ready to play in this game but

fortunately, we survived,” Laguna Beach coach Mark Hill said.

Against Tesoro, Laguna grabbed the lead for good midway through

the first quarter, and never surrendered it.

“In fact, we kept expanding the lead in each quarter,” Hill said.

“We came of age in that game. We showed tremendous character as we

withheld each run they would make in such a hostile and intense game.

A balanced Breakers offense saw Kovacevic score 21 points, Nikolic

score 17, Jeff Clark hit some big, second half shots to finish 13

points -- all coming in the final half -- and Mike Kote play a big

game with 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

“It was a huge win for our program but of course, there are seven

more huge games ahead of us,” Hill said.

In girls’ basketball, Laguna Beach saw a five-game win streak come

to an end in a home loss Tuesday to PCL rival University, 48-44.

The Breakers dug themselves in a hole early and trailed, 15-3,

after one quarter.

They came back strong, however, over the second and third quarters

to wipe out the 12-point deficit and build a four point advantage

heading into the fourth quarter.

There, University outscored Laguna Beach, 18-10, to pull out the

win.

“It was a tough, tough loss,” Laguna coach Stacy Howard said.

Hopefully, it was an eye-opener for the girls, that on any given

night, anyone can upset you.

“I won’t say we were over confident, because I don’t think that’s

what it was. We just really only played our style for about four

minutes at the end of the second quarter. We played hard, but not

well, and it mostly came from not being sharp as unit on the floor.”

Laguna shot just 32% from the field and a measly 21% from the free throw line.

Claire Bevacqua had 17 points and nine rebounds, Brittany Clark

scored 12 points and had five steals and five assists and Emily

LaRose scored 10 points, had two assists and hit a pair of

three-point baskets.

In earlier games, Laguna Beach defeated Tesoro on the road in

league play, 57-41, and Santa Ana at home in nonleague action, 55-31.

In the win at Tesoro, Bevacqua led the way with 23 points, 15

rebounds and three blocks, Tess Grogan scored nine points and LaRose

netted nine points and hit a big three-point shot near the end of the

first half to swing momentum Laguna Beach’s way.

Against Santa Ana, Bevacqua’s strong performance included 15

points, five rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks, Clark

scored seven points and had five steals and four assists, Andrea

Ventura had nine points, six rebounds and two blocks, La Rose, who

came back lineup at the start of the month after suffering a deep

thigh bruise, scored 11 points and had two assists and two rebounds.

Chelsea Hairston big defensive effort included getting five of 19

steals the Breakers came up with.

“The University loss was tough, but I know that this team will

bounce back Thursday and through the second half of league,” Howard

said. “No question that we are still the team to beat in the PCL and

the league title is ours for the taking. One game at a time, one

possession at a time.

“It’s good to have everyone healthy and back. Adding freshman

Emily LaRose to our lineup gives us added strength from the outside.

“Plus, she’s a great passer. I know that in the next couple of

weeks we will get the leadership we need on the floor and get the big

wins we’ll need. I’m excited to see what these kids are going to show

us from here on out. They are fired up, they have got their eyes on

the prize and after last night they’ve got a little added spark, a

little more fire under them. It should be an exciting two weeks.”