Youth Scene: Laguna National Junior Basketball squad falls in overtime

The Laguna Beach3 boys’ basketball team lost a hard-fought National Junior Basketball Division 2 tournament game in overtime Saturday to the Kansas Jayhawks, 46-45.

Starting from a deficit of 5-0 because of the NJB player advantage rules — Kansas had nine players, Laguna Beach3 seven players, and playing without one of its top scorers, Chase Hall, Laguna Beach3 battled with its signature defense and opportunistic scoring to overcome the early deficit and take a 17-16 lead at the end of the first half.

Laguna’s Matt Berk led both teams in scoring with 22 points and also provided key assists and steals that led to points. Taro Sakai had another solid game, attacking the basket for 11 points, played aggressive defense and rebounded strongly. James Kimball had a breakout game with two three-point shots and finished with five points.

Kimball also provided great help in defense and rebounding. Elias Pillsbury and Ben Kelly completed the scoring with two points each and together with Andrew Mundy and Gianluca Megerdichian, help keep Laguna Beach3 in the game with stingy defense.

The closely contested game seesawed back and forth in the second half. Fatigue became a factor down the stretch for Laguna Beach3, and Berk fouled out in the overtime period where Laguna Beach3 was outscored, 3-2.

Laguna Beach3 went into postseason tournament play with a 7-1 record.

— Reader submission