Breakers down Timberwolves

Mike Sciacca

What a key rebound the Laguna Beach High boys’ basketball team came

up with against Pacific Coast League rival Northwood.

One game following a buzzer-beating three-point shot that doomed

them in a heartbreaking loss at Corona del Mar, Laguna came up with a

huge road success by scoring a “first,” as it defeated host

Northwood, 53-52.

The Breakers then followed up that Northwood triumph with a 55-38

home court win over Calvary Chapel.

Defending league champion Northwood, which had edged Laguna in the

teams’ first meeting on Jan. 7, had Laguna down by 13 points midway though the second quarter.

However, Laguna began to connect from three-point range and, with

Nikola Nikolic and Brian Bergen each hitting twice from the arc, the

Breakers were able to cut into that deficit and trailed by just three

at the half.

In the game, Nikolic was a perfect four for four from three-point

range.

“This gave us some great momentum as we came out in the second

half and took the lead, which we carried to the end of the third

quarter,” Laguna coach Mark Hill said.

Laguna took a 40-38 lead into the fourth quarter, where a seesaw

battle ensued.

The game was tied with 17 seconds left, when the Breakers’ Mike

Kote was fouled on a drive to the basket.

Kote made the front end of a one-and-one and missed the second.

The Timberwolves grabbed the rebound, but missed two shot attempts in

the closing seconds, and Laguna came away with its first-ever win

over a Northwood varsity team.

“It was a huge win for us,” Hill said. “We showed tremendous

character and fortitude, especially after almost having the doors

blown off in the second quarter.”

Ivan Kovacevic led Laguna with 17 points , 18 rebounds and three

blocked shots.

Nikolic scored a game-high 18 points and was the only other

Breaker in double figures.

Laguna followed up that landmark victory at Northwood with a 55-38

drubbing of visiting Calvary Chapel.

The Breakers built leads of 15-8 and 28-16, and took a 48-23

advantage through three quarters of play.

The commanding, 25-point cushion allowed Hill the chance to clear

his bench for the first time in league play.

Nine Breakers got into the scoring act, led by Kovacevic’s 22

points.

The senior also had 12 rebounds and blocked four shots.

“They gave us a tough game at their place, so this was a good job

by all to come out and establish ourselves early,” Hill said.