LAGUNA SPORTS UPDATE By Frank Aronoff | LB Indy

FALL SPORTS UPDATE

CROSS COUNTRY Girls Finish Eighth at CIF Laguna ’ s 19th consecutive trip to the SSCIF D-4 finals concluded with a hard-fought eighth place finish last Saturday morning at Mt San Antonio College . Breakers were in a very com-

petitive division this year , with the top seven schools clearly above the rest of the competing teams . Junipero Serra won the division , followed by Oaks Christian , La Canada , Palos Verdes , South Pasadena , Bishop Amat , and Harvard Westlake . Cross County divisions are based on enrollment for schools between 601 and 1520 students . Only the top seven advance to State next week .

The top runners for the Breakers

were Yolo Javier followed by Sydney Sydney , Anoua Carrie , Brighton Welch , and Karina Pitz . The good news is that all should return for next season .

For cross-country information , visit www . lbxc . org for the girls ’ team and www . lagunabeachcrosscountry . com for the boys ’ team .

WINTER SPORTS BOYS BASKETBALL ( 2-2 )

Under new coach , Ruslan Soobzokov , The Laguna Boys team completed their initial tournament of the season and moved on to the Marina Feast Week games this past Monday and Tuesday and will compete in the Portola tournament next week . This Friday , the Breakers will face Artesia in a showcase event at Edison High School featuring a number of high school games at one site .

In last week ’ s Jim Harris Tournament at Ocean View High School , Breakers defeated old league rival Valencia / Placentia 66-44 on Nov . 16 , behind 12 three-point baskets with four each by Ryan Cheng and Jack Halvorson . Halvorson finished with 16 points , followed by 12 for Cheng and 11 from Ashton Azadian , who also had 14 rebounds .

It was Laguna ’ s 74th meeting with the Tigers dating back to 1935 . The following day Laguna lost in the Consolation Semifinals to Portola 79-62 , with the Bulldogs using a big third quarter to pull away from the Breakers . Sam Burchi was the top scorer for Laguna with 12 points .

On Nov . 19 , the tournament concluded with Laguna facing another long-time rival with the 81st meeting between the Breakers and Brea- Olinda . Laguna was known as the Breakers the first time the two schools met in 1935 , but unlike that meeting , Laguna crushed the Wildcats 67-41 this time around . Azadian had 16 points and 16 rebounds , Halvorson had 15 points and Cheng 12 points .

GIRLS BASKETBALL ( 2-0 )

Sophie Marriner scored 16 points , and Elaina Seybold added 11 as Laguna easily defeated Magnolia 48-29 on Nov . 17 at Dugger Gym . Laguna faced Costa Mesa on Tuesday at home this past week and will return the favor next Tuesday at Costa Mesa . It will be the 74th and 75th all-time games with their former league rivals .

GIRLS SOCCER ( 0-1 )

Laguna opened their 42nd varsity season with a tough 4-1 loss to Junipero Serra at the Lions field . Lindsay Martin scored the lone goal for the Breakers . Coach Ben Helm is now in his sixth season guiding the Breakers , who have finished second the past four Sunset

Wave League campaigns . Laguna returns to action on Nov . 29 when they host Dana Hills at Guyer Field . The match starts at 6:15 p . m .

BOYS SOCCER

Andy Thomas returns for his fourth season since returning to Laguna when the team took on St Margaret ’ s this past Monday at the Tartan ’ s field . Laguna will open home play this Wednesday , Nov . 30 , against Tarbut ’ V Torah at 6 p . m . on Guyer Field .

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