Laguna grinds out win

Laguna Beach High boys’ basketball Coach Bret Fleming knew Wednesday’s game at Godinez High would be played at a slow tempo.

But Laguna still survived Godinez’s slow-down tactics and pulled away in the second half to grind out a 45-35 Orange Coast League victory. The win was the third straight for the Breakers, who improved to 3-0 in league and 10-9 overall.

The Breakers were up only 19-1.

“I’m glad we got the win,” Fleming said. “This is kind of what I expected from them (Godinez). They play a deliberate game and eat up a lot of the clock. We seemed to be real frustrated at first but played a little better in the second half.”

Derek Reigel led Laguna with 10 points. Brandon Lewis scored nine and Noah Blanton had seven points.

Laguna, the defending league champion, started its title defense Jan. 11, which was the Breakers’ first home game of the season. They responded with a 46-38 victory against Estancia, despite trailing, 7-2, after the first quarter.

“Being that it was our first home game of the season, I thought the kids would be a little too hyped up, and they were,” Fleming said. “They settled down and then took control.”

Jake Dalke’s 13 points topped the Breakers and Lewis contributed nine points.

Laguna got its second league win Jan. 13 by routing host Calvary Chapel, 65-30. The Breakers limited the Eagles to five points in the second quarter and only four points in the third.

Reigel and Cole Kesler each scored 15 points.

The Breakers are home at 7 p.m. Friday against Costa Mesa (3-0) in a battle for first place. Next week, they travel to face Saddleback at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

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Girls’ Basketball

The Breakers stepped away from Orange Coast League play Wednesday to take on St. Margaret’s in their final nonleague game of the season, losing to the visiting Tartans, 55-29.

“We did a poor job with taking care of the ball and got behind big early,” said Laguna Coach Mark Lewis, whose team trailed, 28-5, after the first quarter. “We couldn’t recover from there.

“We played a more spirited fourth quarter, winning the quarter, 15-2, but the game was well out of hand at that point.”

Sarina Strickland scored a career-high seven points and Lewis said the sophomore “played well down the stretch.”

Laguna played Godinez in a previous league game Tuesday and lost to the Grizzlies, 52-16.

Laguna next plays a 7 p.m. Tuesday at Saddleback.

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Twitter: @MikeSciacca