Laguna Beach Stays Close, but Finally Falls to Saddleback

SANTA ANA — Laguna Beach High School faced its biggest trial of the season Friday night when it faced Saddleback, the eighth-ranked team in Orange County. It was a chance for the Artists to prove they were really as good as their 10-2 record.

The verdict? It was a hung jury.

Laguna Beach played the Roadrunners close before losing, 48-45, in a nonleague game at Saddleback. The game did leave some question as to the worthiness of the Roadrunners’ top 10 ranking.

It was an sloppy game, with plenty of fouls, turnovers and mental mistakes. In fact, the best pass of the evening was by Laguna Beach’s Lee Kirner, who dribbled the ball off his foot and into the hands of teammate Dain Blanton for a layup.

Saddleback (11-5) pressed throughout, forcing 20 turnovers and taking the Artists out of their offense.

However, Saddleback made only 18 of 59 field goal attempts. The Roadrunners had plenty of open shots, they just couldn’t make them.

Elton Moore scored 11 points and Andre McFarlane 10 to lead Saddleback. But Moore made only four of 12 and McFarlane was three of 14.

“That’s been our problem all season and everyone knows about it,” Saddleback Coach Pat Quinn said. “We play good defense. We get the rebounds. We get the good shot. . . . Then we miss it.”

Saddleback trailed, 29-26, at halftime but tied the score at 34 midway through the third quarter on a layup by McFarlane. Paul Fitzgerald made two jump shots to give the Roadrunners a 38-34 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Early in the fourth, Liem Nguyen made a three-pointer and then stole the ball and scored on a layup to give the Roadrunners a 46-41 lead. Nguyen, a senior guard, scored nine points off the bench.

McFarlane made two free throws with 39 seconds left to give the Roadrunners a 48-43 lead. Laguna Beach (10-3) had a chance to tie the score, but Brady Butcher’s 30-foot three-point attempt hit the front of the rim at the buzzer.

Besides being quicker than the Artists, the Roadrunners were stronger inside. Saddleback outrebounded Laguna Beach, 34-14, and often got two, three and even four shot opportunities on one possession.

Laguna Beach was ahead, 29-22, with 2:18 left in the first half. But the Artists got into foul trouble and had three starters foul out.

Butcher scored 14 to lead the Artists, but fouled out late in the game.

“Saddleback’s quickness got us in foul trouble,” Laguna Beach Coach Ed Bowen said. “We couldn’t keep up with them. But I’m pleased with the way we hung in there. We have a good team.”

But on how good, the jury’s still out.