Defense paves road to victory

The Laguna Beach Division 1 girls’ basketball team (grades 7/8) started the National Junior Basketball postseason tournament Sunday with a convincing 28-13 win over previously undefeated Tustin at Tustin High.

Laguna’s defensive pressure took Tustin out of its offensive rhythm and limited the host team to few second-chance opportunities. Eighth-grader Jackie Cenan paced Laguna Beach in scoring with 14 points, with eight coming in a fourth period that saw Laguna pull away.

Eighth-grade players Francesca Cecutti and Murphy Thompson controlled the boards, along with Cenan and Alexandra Lewis. Lewis and seventh-grade player Nicole Davidson ran the offense at the point and seventh-grader Rachel Kenney contributed key outside shots. The defensive play of seventh-graders Kirsten Landsiedel and Madison Sinclair and eighth-grader Ashley Brown shut down the Tustin attack.

The win moved Laguna’s record to 10-1. The locals face two more tournament challenges Sunday when they take on an undefeated Diamond Bar team and an 8-1 La Habra team. Both games are at Tustin High.

— From Staff Reports