Stricken Breakers look to future

Injuries and illnesses put damper on Laguna Beach girls’ basketball season.When the 2005-06 girls’ basketball season tipped off, Laguna Beach Coach Nicholas Ilagan could not foresee the many obstacles that would be presented to his first team.

Excitement and high expectations were tempered with injuries and illnesses, and the Breakers, who were coming off a first-ever league championship from the previous year and back-to-back CIF-Southern Section playoff appearances, never realized their potential.

“It is hard to judge our team’s performance this year,” Ilagan said of the Breakers, who finished the year 4-19. “The team was only together for a few games at the beginning and end of the year.

“The things on offense and defense we wanted to accomplish this year were difficult with the inconsistency of our starting line-up and bench availability due to injuries and illness.”

Continuity on the court never really materialized, as no fewer than four players suffered either illness, concussions, back problems, abdominal strains and tweaked ankles.

“We also had a lot of girls miss game-time because of dehydration,” Ilagan said. “I have never seen a team go through a season so banged up.”

Yet despite several road blocks, several players shined on the court. A season short on victories didn’t spare the highlights.

“I think that we saw a lot of highlights from a lot of girls,” Ilagan said. “I enjoyed watching Tess Grogan mature into an overall scorer from just a three-point threat. Emily LaRose showed signs of greatness that we hope will become consistent next year. Haley Eaves and Chelsea Hairston really showed a lot of tenacity on defense the whole year.

“Lauren Delgado had a sub-20 point game in a tournament, which we all knew would happen. And then there was the excitement of watching the pure athleticism of Claire Bevacqua, and especially Brittany Clark, at different times this season.”

Bevacqua, one Laguna player who missed several games this season, turned in some huge performances late in the season, none bigger, though, than the 31-point performance she netted against Calvary Chapel in a 59-55 loss on Feb. 1.

The 31 points, Ilagan said, set a school single-game record, as did the free-throw percentage mark turned in by Grogan.

“It does not sound exciting at all, but it was that record that helped us stay close to teams and make games competitive in the second half of the season,” he said of Grogan’s skill from the charity stripe.

Bevacqua was named second-team All-Pacific Coast League and Grogran was named Honorable Mention.

Bevacqua, a forward, is one of five seniors who have played their final game for the Breakers. The others are Eaves (forward), Hairston (small forward), Delgado (shooting guard) and Lisa Avila (post).20060217iut1e0nc(LA)20060217itb7b0ncMARK DUSTIN / COASTLINE PILOT