Newport Harbor

Mike Sciacca It's been a nearly a week since the Laguna Beach High girls' basketball team has been together on the court, but Stacy Howard's eager crew is finally getting in some practice time in preparation for its final nonleague game of the season. The Breakers will visit Newport Harbor at 7 p.m. Thursday in a nonleague clash. It's the team's final tuneup before they launch Pacific Coast League play on Jan. 14 by hosting Corona del Mar. "We're excited to be back on the court," Howard said during a shoot-around the team held on New Year's Eve day. "It's been a while since the girls have been together."

What had the potential to be a sweep and big nonleague win for the Laguna Beach boys’ volleyball team Wednesday turned into a five-game match that ended in a 22-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-16, 15-11 win for host Newport Harbor. Laguna was on fire in the first two games and made strong plays that took the Breakers to a 2-0 lead in the match and on the brink of a triumph over a Newport Harbor team that is ranked fourth in Division I and just last week handed No. 1-ranked Mira Costa a loss.

The Laguna Beach High girls? water polo team can add the title of the inaugural California High School Championships to its résumé. The tournament concluded Sunday, with Laguna capturing the championship by defeating Newport Harbor, 11-9. The tournament featured several teams, including squads from Ventura, Santa Barbara, Palos Verdes, Clovis, La Canada, Villa Park, Edison, El Toro, Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar. ? Early action Laguna cruised through the early rounds of the tournament, beating both Tesoro (14-3)

When Laguna Beach and Newport Harbor get together in the pool for girls' water polo competition, the action almost never seems to lack drama. Saturday at the Laguna pool, it was turned up a notch. The sixth-ranked Breakers and fourth-ranked Sailors went up against each other for a second time this season in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinal showdown where a berth in the semifinals awaited the winner. After a deadlock through regulation, it was Newport that survived to move on, following an 11-10 overtime victory.

A sluggish start to Wednesday's opener at the Estancia Coast Classic couldn't deter the Laguna Beach High boys' basketball team from opening the tournament with a big win. The Breakers began to pull away from Newport Harbor in the second half at Estancia High, and went on to claim a 59-45 victory over the Sailors. The win moved Laguna to 9-5 overall and came on the heels of an impressive, double-digit win Saturday over Corona del Mar. "I don't think either team played well at the start," Laguna Coach Bret Fleming said.

The Laguna Beach Club Volleyball boys' team will open its five-game schedule in the Woodbridge Summer League Tuesday at Woodbridge High in Irvine. The eight-team league is composed of Laguna Beach, host Woodbridge, Newport Harbor, Esperanza, Villa Park, Capistrano Valley, Irvine and Long Beach Poly. League games will be played each Tuesday and Thursday between July 9-25, followed by a postseason tournament. Below is the three week schedule for the 2002 Woodbridge Summer League: Tues.

TODAY Baseball (3 p.m.) Laguna at Buena Park (Newport Elks Tourney) SATURDAY Frosh/Soph Volleyball (8 a.m.) Laguna at Newport Tourney Baseball (10 a.m.) Valley Christian at Laguna (Newport Elks Tourney) Softball (TBA) Laguna at Costa Mesa Tourney MONDAY Boys' Tennis (3:15 p.m.) Laguna at Whitney Boys' Golf (3:15 p.m.) Costa Mesa vs. Laguna (at San Clemente GC)

WEEK OF DEC. 31-JAN. 6 MONDAY JV Boys' Basketball (7 p.m.) Laguna at Edison TUESDAY Girls' Soccer (3:15 p.m.) Laguna at El Modena JV Soccer (3:15 p.m.) Laguna at El Modena Frosh/Soph Soccer (4:30 p.m.) Laguna at El Modena Girls' Basketball (7 p.m.) Newport Harbor at Laguna JV Basketball (5:30 p.m.) Newport Harbor at Laguna Boys' Basketball (7 p.m.)

Friday Swimming (3:15 p.m.) Pacifica at Laguna Softball (4 p.m.) Capo Valley Christian at Laguna (at Thurston Middle School) * Saturday Softball Laguna vs. La Sierra, 9 a.m. Laguna vs. Aliso Niguel, 1 p.m. (at Costa Mesa Tournament) Baseball (11 a.m.) Laguna at Segerstrom (Newport Elks Tournament) Boys' JV Volleyball (TBA) Laguna at Foothill Tournament Frosh/Soph Volleyball (TBA) Laguna at Newport Harbor Tournament * Tuesday Boys' Tennis (3 p.m.)

Friday Swimming (3:15 p.m.) Pacifica at Laguna Softball (4 p.m.) Capo Valley Christian at Laguna (at Thurston Middle School) * Saturday Softball Laguna vs. La Sierra, 9 a.m. Laguna vs. Aliso Niguel, 1 p.m. (at Costa Mesa Tournament) Baseball (11 a.m.) Laguna at Segerstrom (Newport Elks Tournament) Boys' JV Volleyball (TBA) Laguna at Foothill Tournament Frosh/Soph Volleyball (TBA) Laguna at Newport Harbor Tournament * Tuesday Boys' Tennis (3 p.m.)

When Laguna Beach and Newport Harbor get together in the pool for girls' water polo competition, the action almost never seems to lack drama. Saturday at the Laguna pool, it was turned up a notch. The sixth-ranked Breakers and fourth-ranked Sailors went up against each other for a second time this season in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinal showdown where a berth in the semifinals awaited the winner. After a deadlock through regulation, it was Newport that survived to move on, following an 11-10 overtime victory.

A sluggish start to Wednesday's opener at the Estancia Coast Classic couldn't deter the Laguna Beach High boys' basketball team from opening the tournament with a big win. The Breakers began to pull away from Newport Harbor in the second half at Estancia High, and went on to claim a 59-45 victory over the Sailors. The win moved Laguna to 9-5 overall and came on the heels of an impressive, double-digit win Saturday over Corona del Mar. "I don't think either team played well at the start," Laguna Coach Bret Fleming said.

Things couldn't have gone any better for the Laguna Beach girls' water polo team as it ventured into the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs for the first time. The Breakers hosted Irvine in a first-round match Wednesday and left little doubt as to which was the dominant team in the pool. Putting together a quick start and displaying a tenacious defense, Laguna scored early and often in an 18-3 victory. Fifth-ranked Laguna, now 21-7, plays third-ranked Newport Harbor today.

LAGUNA BEACH — Things couldn't have come off any better than they did Wednesday for the Laguna Beach girls' water polo team as it ventured into the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs for the first time. The Breakers hosted Irvine in a first-round match-up and left little doubt as to which was the dominant team in the pool. Putting together a quick start and displaying a tenacious defense, which has become its trademark in the past month, Laguna scored early and often and rolled to an 18-3 victory.

Opening its season early Wednesday in surf that was fast, glassy, hollow and somewhat tricky to ride, the Laguna Beach High surf team rode the performance of its female surfers to a victory against Newport Harbor. The South Coast League contest was held at 56th Street in Newport Beach. The Breakers won both the girls' Longboard and Shortboard divisions and the Sailors won the boys' Longboard, Shortboard and Bodyboard events. "We did pretty well overall, especially the girls," Laguna Coach Scott Finn said.

They were the third-seeded team in the tournament, and after the smoke had cleared they placed third overall. But it was still just a tad disappointing for the Laguna Beach High girls? water polo team over the weekend at the California State High School Championships. Laguna felt like it had the talent to win the tournament, and was within a goal of advancing to the final. But the Breakers were denied in the semifinals by Los Alamitos, 6-5, on Sunday morning at Corona del Mar High.

Wacholder planning a return Laguna Beach native Rachel Wacholder had a baby in early April, but that?s not going to keep her off the sand for long. Wacholder is planning a return to the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Tour with Kerri Walsh, the AVP has announced. The duo is working toward playing at the Hermosa Beach Open, scheduled for Aug. 6-9. Wacholder, 34, had son Koa on April 3. Her husband, Sean Scott, also plays on the AVP Tour. Wacholder, who now lives in Redondo Beach, has won six AVP Tour titles and finished the season ranked as high as third (2005-06)

The Laguna Beach High girls? water polo team finished third at the CIF Southern Section Masters Tournament last weekend at El Toro High. The Division II champion Breakers dominated Foothill in the third-place match, 16-9, after suffering a tough 16-15 loss to Newport Harbor in the semifinals. An instant classic, the semifinal game went to double sudden-death overtime before Newport?s Kaleigh Gilchrist finally scored the game-winner. ?That was a pretty crazy game,? Laguna Beach Coach Ethan Damato said.

Lance Stewart said his team isn?t quite there yet. But Tuesday at Dugger Gym, Laguna Beach was right there with visiting Newport Harbor, hanging with the CIF Division I-AA?s fifth-ranked team, battling from two games down to force a decisive fifth game. In the end, a typical hard-fought battle between the programs went Newport?s way, as the Sailors (6-0) came out strong at the outset of the fifth game and never let up to claim a 26-24, 25-20, 23-25, 20-25, 15-7 victory in the 25th all-time meeting between the schools.