Laguna Beach getting hot at right time

Getting key play from singles Hutton Mckenna, Teague Hamilton and Owen Weber, the Laguna Beach High boys’ tennis team advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section-Toyota Boys’ Division 4 Tennis Championships.

Laguna squared its overall record at 11-11 with an easy 15-3 second-round victory Saturday against Paloma Valley. The win sent the Breakers to Thursday’s quarterfinal round where they faced Whitney. The score wasn’t available at press time. A win by Laguna would move the Breakers to a Tuesday semifinal date with top-seed Viewpoint.

The division final is at 2 p.m. June 2 at Claremont Club.

Laguna and Whitney met earlier in the season, with the Breakers winning a close match, 10-8.

Against Paloma Valley, Mckenna didn’t drop a game in winning his three sets by 6-0 scores. Mike Rubel and Paul Salomon, both seniors teamed at No. 1 doubles, dropped just four games in a sweep.

“The boys really stepped up in the second round,” Laguna Coach Aaron Talarico said of the win against Paloma Valley. “Hutton Mckenna didn’t drop a game. He is definitely starting to play to his ability, and he is peaking at just the right time. Mike and Paul are both very strong doubles players and even though it was the first time they had played in awhile, they were able to figure it out and get some convincing wins.”