Laguna battles in NJB Division 3

Two Laguna Beach teams were in action against each other in National Junior Basketball boys’ Division 3 action over the weekend. Team 1, coached by Ali Rounaghi, prevailed against Team 2, coached by Mike Levine and Gerard Stripling, 45-27. Throughout the game, Team 1 used its athleticism to push the ball for fast break scores. Remy Mackel and Owen McMurray paced Team 1 with 12 points each. Charlie Rounaghi contributed eight points and tallied a number of assists and steals.

For Team 2, Grady Morgan led in scoring with 15 points and Nicholas Lucas chipped in with seven, hitting five-for-five from the free-throw line. Team 1 finished the regular season undefeated and in first place at 10-0. Team 2 ended with a three-game skid to finish 5-5, in fourth place. Both teams are well-positioned for good runs in the Championship Series Tournament, which begins Saturday.

Boys’ Division 2

Laguna Beach Team One 70, San Clemente 27: Laguna finished its regular season also at 10-0 and in first place. George MacCabe scored early and often from the inside to lead his team with 22 points.

The second half featured the long range aerial assault of the talented Breakers teams, with Evan Kawashiri hitting on four three-pointers to finish with 18 points. Nathan Victor and Sterling Dudley-Bowen each had a trey of their own, finishing with 15 and nine points, respectively.

San Clemente 38, Laguna Beach Team Two 28: Team 2 had a rougher go of it, finishing the regular the season 3-7. They head into the tournament with plenty of talent to make a good run at a tournament title.

Girls’ Division 3

San Clemente 17, Laguna Beach 10: The weekend got off to a rough start for the girls, losing for a second straight time. This time it was to San Clemente, which claimed the league title. The loss meant that the Breakers had to win on Sunday to claim second place, which they did in convincing fashion, 32-13. The Breakers finished 8-2.

Girls’ Division 2

Laguna Beach Team One 52, Laguna Hills 6: Team 1, coached by Heidi Carballo, had only five players for the game. Pacing themselves, the girls torched the nets for a 52-6 victory. Katelyn Carballo had a standout game on both ends of the floor.

Taylor Cunningham was hitting long-range jumpers all game long and Charlotte Duran cleaned up the boards with several put-backs. Crystal Curras had some nice baskets and key defensive plays. Olivia Polins-Jones chipped in a basket, as well. Team 1 finished 6-4 and is poised for a good run in the tournament.

Laguna Beach Team Two 41, Laguna Hills 20: Alexandra Lewis again paced the Breakers in scoring with 20 points. Sydney DeCarlo got the Breakers going early with a couple of big baskets and some key defensive plays and rebounding. Aria Fischer continued with the defensive push and also contributed some baskets of her own and nice assists to Lewis on backdoor plays.

Francesca Cecutti took the lead in the second half under the boards with several key rebounds and put-backs to keep the game out of reach. Nicole Davidson and Lauren McDonnell played ferocious defense on Laguna Hills guards, collecting several steals that they converted to layups. Team 2 finished with an impressive 7-3 record, which was good for fourth place in a tough league.

Girls’ Division 1

The girls split their Saturday games, losing to Capo/Dana early in the day, 43-27. They bounced back to avenge an early-season loss to Laguna Hills by upending the Lady Hawks on their home court, 34-23.

After a rough 1-4 start, the Breakers finished 4-1 to end the season at 5-5 with good momentum going into the Championship Series tournament this weekend.