Junior hoops league underway

Mike Sciacca

The opening day of Junior Basketball League 2002, sponsored by the

City of Laguna Beach, featured three preseason games played at Laguna

Beach High.

The league is comprised of local players in grades fifth through

eighth.

In the most competitive game of the day, the Blue Devils bedeviled

coach Bobby Marquette’s Bruins, 47-41. Bobby Monroe controlled inside

play and led coach Alex Norfleet’s squad with a game-high 22 points. His

performance offset the efforts of three Bruins in double figures as Nick

Witte scored 15 points, Patrick Curran had 12 and Matthew Knapp added 10.

The teams were tied at halftime, 23-23.

In other games:

Clippers 78, Lakers 51

The Clippers of coach Shawn Ridet ran past Brenden Stephens’ Lakers,

78-51, as Cheyne Martin poured in 37 points. Martin played in just seven

games last season and was the league’s fourth leading scorer at a 20.3

points per game average.

The rest of the Clipper lineup scored in double figures. Kevin Buck

hit two, three point shots and finished with 16 points, Ryan Arthur

netted 15 points and Armand Begay added 10.

Tyler Naylor scored 28 points to lead the Lakers while Jeff Chan and

John Nagel scored 12 points each.

Trailblazers 54, Rainbows 38

The Trailblazers, coached by Walt Gabbard and Trevor Lyle, looked

impressive in a 54-38 victory over the Rainbows. Trailblazer Brian Delino

and point guard Ian Butters tied for game-high scoring honors with 21

points apiece. Butters hit three, three-point shots, all in the first

half.

Marcus Hairston and Bryce Healey each scored seven points for the

Trailblazers.

River Myers scored seven points and led the way in rebounding for

coach Brandon Leahy’s Rainbows.

The regular season tips off on Saturday at Laguna Beach High with the

Trailblazers battling the Lakers at 8 a.m., followed by the

Bruins-Rainbows game at 9:15 a.m. The Blue Devils take on the Clippers at

10:30 a.m. in the last of the league’s three scheduled games.