HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP:Breakers on a roll in boys’ water polo

For the first time in more than eight years, the Laguna Beach High boys’ water polo team won a tournament championship.

Last weekend, the Breakers emerged from a field of 16 teams to win the Tustin Varsity Tournament, which was played over three days at high school pools at Tustin and Beckman.

In pool play, Laguna defeated Cathedral (9-6) and Edison (15-11). The Breakers went on to survive Ventura, 8-7, in sudden death overtime, and then toppled Santa Margarita, 7-4, in the tournament final Saturday.

The tournament triumph helped Laguna climb to No. 4 in this week’s CIF Southern Section Division II rankings.

Pierre Masson scored three goals and Peter Phelps posted two in the title match for Laguna.

In the overtime win over Ventura, Cameron Brinkman scored off an assist from Masson to give the Breakers the victory.

Ventura was ranked ahead of Laguna in the Division II poll entering the tournament.

“The tournament provided us a great opportunity to see teams like Ventura,” Laguna Coach Rick McKee said.

“We were excited to have the chance to see them play. I told the boys before the tournament, take advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself, and they did just that.

“The kids really stepped up for the tournament. Right now, they are believing in themselves. They have taken their game to a different level. We have real leadership in the water, too, and all of that is huge heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.”

On Tuesday — in a rematch of Saturday’s tournament final — Laguna again disposed of No. 8 Santa Margarita, this time, by a score of 11-7, in nonleague play. Phelps scored four goals, Masson had three, Nathan McConnell added two and Cameron Brinkman and Johnny Holcomb each scored once for the Breakers.

The victory was the seventh in a row for Laguna.

“The boys are playing with purpose and determination with a never-say-die attitude,” McKee said.

“They want to win.”

Prior to the Tustin Tournament, Laguna took care of Sage Hill, 12-8, in Orange Coast League play. Masson scored four goals, Phelps had three, Brinkman and McConnell each scored twice and Victor Alcone added one goal.

Laguna raced to a 10-4 halftime lead and McKee pulled his starters after the first half.

Girls’ Volleyball

Laguna powered past host Estancia, 25-16, 25-6, 25-14, in Orange Coast League play. Piper Obradovich had 11 digs and six kills, Dana Hutchinson 16 kills and 11 digs, Zoe Garrett 14 kills, Mychaela Miller 18 assists and seven digs, Alex Palmer 18 assists and six digs and Laurielle Hofer five blocks for Laguna.

The Breakers also swamped visiting Costa Mesa, 25-13, 25-4, 25-6 in other league action. With the entire Laguna line-up contributing to the victory, Miller had seven kills and 16 assists, Palmer 20 kills and five digs, Garrett seven kills, Hofer five kills and Hutchinson 13 kills and four aces.

Girls’ Tennis

As the regular season winds down, the Breakers are picking up steam heading toward Orange Coast League finals and the upcoming CIF playoffs.

Laguna moved to 6-0 in league play and evened its overall record at 8-8 on Tuesday by disposing of host Costa Mesa, 15-3.

The Breakers got a clean sweep in singles action behind the play of No. 1 Madeline Jaeger, No. 2 Alex Yates-Robinson and No. 3 Nicole St. Jean.

In doubles play, No. 1 Kim Smith/Allison Azera and No. 2 Sarah Russell/McKenna Nokes also earned sweeps.

In previous action, Laguna defeated Estancia, 15-3, and Calvary Chapel, 14-4.

In the win over Estancia, Jaeger and St. Jean swept in singles play, and Russell/Ali Hunter and Smith/Azera swept in doubles action.

Against Calvary Chapel, Jaeger and Yates-Robinson won by sweeps in singles play and the Breakers doubles teams, led by sweeps by No. 1 Heather Tran/Nokes and No. 2 Russell/Hunter, won eight of nine.