LAGUNA BEACH – It might have been easy for Laguna Beach to overlook Salesian and maybe moreso after taking a double-digit lead in the second quarter.
The Mustangs were awarded a berth in the CIF-SS Division 4AA playoffs despite an 0-10 record in the Camino Real League and a 13-game losing streak, but that didn’t stop them from putting pressure on a young Breakers squad in the second half.
Laguna Beach’s boys basketball team countered by hitting crucial momentum-shifting shots and pulled away late for a 71-57 win, Wednesday night.
“It looked like we weren’t ready, I think they surprised us a bit,” Breakers coach Bret Fleming said. “Maybe we didn’t come out ready to compete in the second half, but they turned it around, which is good.”
Four Breakers scored in double-digits, led by freshman Blake Burzell, who scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The Breakers hit 11 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter to maintain a double-digit lead.
Darin Richardson hit a pair of crucial 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Junior Spencer Wong was critical in orchestrating the offense and he dished out nine assists.
“It all comes down to ball movement, we have guys that know where to pass the ball, which gets everyone open,” Richardson said. “If we’re willing to cut, that opens the floor a lot more.”
After fighting to a 33-20 halftime lead, Salesian (9-18) came out with energy in the second half and used its quickness and finesse to work inside for layups and trips to the line.
Junior Xavier Antoine led a 9-0 charge in the third quarter that cut the Breakers’ lead to 39-34. Antoine finished with 17 points and eight rebounds and got help from senior Kris Chavez, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half.
“They got to a point where they were going for broke,” Fleming said. “They were putting their heads down and just trying to get to the rim and at times we took a charge, but we need to get five kids doing that.”
Rounaghi’s 3-pointer broke the run. When Antoine started up again with eight points in the fourth, Isaac Wulff and Richardson hit back-to-back 3-pointers and the Breakers put it away on free throws.
Laguna Beach (16-13) will be on the road against No. 3 Chaminade in the second round on Friday night.
