Laguna trio lands all-league status

Mike Sciacca

Laguna Beach High’s return to the CIF-Southern Section postseason

party in girls’ basketball for the first time in 16 years is a direct

reflection of its team hustle on the court.

And, in that regard, three Breakers have been singled out by the

coaches of the Pacific Coast League, for their outstanding efforts in

the recently completed season.

Aja Roley, Deana Awadalla and Brittany Clark each was named to the

2004 all-league team.

Roley, a senior, was named to the six-member First Team.

Awadalla and Clark, meanwhile, were two of the six league players

named Second Team.

“I was extremely happy with what we got on the all-league teams

this year,” Laguna Coach Stacy Howard said.

Roley was second among league players in rebounding and among the

top five scorers.

She also led the Breakers during league play with a pair of

20-point games against Calvary Chapel, and on three occasions,

rebounded in double digits.

Roley was Laguna’s top scorer (10.4 avg.) and rebounder (8.3 avg.)

for the year, and hit 16, three-point baskets.

“As a team captain, she led us all year in the areas we needed

most, as our most dependable defensive player and the one we looked

to offensively, as well,” Howard said. “She provided that great

senior leadership I talked about all year.”

Awadalla, also a senior point guard, was fourth among league

players in three-point field goals (28) and assists (68).

She was second to Clark on Laguna’s team in assists and steals.

“As deserving as anyone, Deana brought absolutely everything we

asked of her this year and it carried over statistically for her,”

Howard said. “She played in every game this year and stepped up and

hit every important three-point shot we needed.

“Deana has worked for four years to be a better shooter, passer

and floor leader, and this year, it put her on the Second Team. A

tremendous accomplishment for her.”

Clark made quite an impact on the league in just her freshman

year.

She was third in the league in steals (103) and assists (78), as

well, and was among its Top 10 scorers.

Clark topped all Laguna players in team per game stats such as

steals (4.3 avg.) and assists (3.3). She also led the team for the

year in free throw attempts (118).

“Brittany is obviously one of the three best freshmen in our

league and has such a bright future for us, it is amazing,” Howard

said. “She brought a new dimension of speed and athleticism to our

program and is quite possibly the quickest player in the league.”