Laguna downs Huntington Beach North

Mike Sciacca

Despite not having two of its tallest players in the lineup for

Sunday’s National Junior Basketball game with visiting Huntington

Beach North, Laguna Beach’s seventh-grade boys’ All-net team still

controlled the boards in a 63-51 victory.

Clay Knapp was sidelined with the flu, and Warren Murrel was out

with a sprained ankle, yet Laguna didn’t miss a beat.

Laguna had its fastbreak going full throttle. Led by point guard

Marcus Hairston, Laguna’s transition game netted several layup

baskets as the host team raced to a 36-18 halftime lead.

Huntington Beach North got back into the game by hitting five

three-point shots in the second half to pull within eight points of

the lead, but the play of Hairston and Nick Witte kept the visitors

at bay.

Witte led all scorers with 20 points, and Hairston finished with

17.

Matt Innins secured the victory with a pair of steals and

breakaway layups down the stretch.

Innins had seven points, Kevin Buck scored eight, Alex Vasquez had

six, and Dalton Sype closed out Laguna’s scoring with five points.

Witte and Innins each grabbed nine rebounds, and the defensive

efforts of Sype, Hairston, Buck and Dylan Doumeng kept Huntington

Beach North’s offense off balance.

Laguna, which improved to 8-2 with the win, travels to Foothill

High Sunday to battle first-place Tustin.