For openers, rough going

Laguna boys fall to Sailors in first home game; girls lose big at Woodbridge.Newport Harbor High spoiled the home debut for the Laguna Beach High boys’ basketball team Tuesday by posting a 46-32 victory over the Breakers at Dugger Gym.

Jeff Clark topped the Breakers in scoring with 12 points. Teammate Bobby Monroe contributed eight points and six rebounds.

“The kids are continuing to work hard and I’m confident that we will improve; it’s just going to take some time,” Laguna coach Bret Fleming said.

The Breakers were coming off an appearance at the Garden Grove Tournament, which wrapped up Saturday.

Laguna reached the tournament’s semifinal round. There, the Breakers were defeated by eventual tournament runner-up, Whittier Christian, 56-34. Brian Delino turned in a solid performance for Laguna and finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.

In the tournament’s third-place game Saturday, Laguna fell to Pacific Coast League rival Calvary Chapel, 56-43. Clark sparked the Breakers with 24 points and five rebounds.

Laguna hosts Estancia today at 7 p.m. On Monday, the Breakers begin play in the Century Tournament. They’ll take on Marina at 10:30 p.m. at Century High in Santa Ana.

The Breakers open Pacific Coast League play at home against Beckman on Jan. 4.

In girls’ basketball:

Woodbridge saddled Laguna with a 70-17 nonleague defeat Wednesday at Woodbridge.

Emily LaRose had six points to lead Laguna in scoring.

“I know it does not show in the score, but I thought we played pretty good defense,” Laguna coach Nicholas Ilagan said. “We were not able to handle their press and continuously turned the ball over. That is where they scored most of their points and where we lost the game.

“We have had problems scoring points when we play in a half-court set, and I take full responsibility for that. We need to get back to using our athleticism and playing a much, much more up-tempo offense and defense.”

A lack of continuity on the floor has hurt the Breakers thus far in the 2005-06 season.

“It has been a big blow thus far this season with the amount of injuries and illnesses on this team,” Ilagan said. “It has been difficult to get into any kind of consistency.”

Next up for Laguna is the Garden Grove Tournament, which opens Monday.

Following the holiday break, the Breakers open defense of their Pacific Coast League title on Jan. 4 when they host Beckman.

“I am really looking forward to getting back on the court next week in the Garden Grove tournament and turning this season around,” Ilagan said. “I believe in this team and we would really like to go in to the new year on a positive note.”

In previous action, Laguna fell at Sunny Hills, 54-44, in nonleague play.

Emily LaRose led the Breakers in scoring with 10 points and Brittany Clark and Tess Grogan each had eight.

Breakers coach Nick Ilagan credited Haley Eaves with a strong defensive performance.

“We have continued to struggle with shooting, specifically with easy opportunities from the field and at the free-throw line,” Ilagan said. “On the season, we are 41% from the field and 53% from the line.

“But the most trouble that we have had is putting four quarters together. We have consistently had one bad quarter, in the Sunny Hills game it was the first quarter where we were outscored to open the game.”

The Lancers took a 16-5 lead on Laguna after one quarter, forcing the Breakers to play catch-up the rest of the way.20051223irvxv3ncPHOTOS BY DON LEACH / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Laguna Beach’s Jeff Clark goes up for a shot against Newport Harbor, which went on to defeat the Breakers by a score of 46-32. 20051223irvy0wncPHOTOS BY DON LEACH / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Laguna Beach’s Jeff Clark goes up for a shot against Newport Harbor, which went on to defeat the Breakers by a score of 46-32.