Ducks soar to tourney title

Ryan Lawler was unstoppable on offense, and the Ducks couldn’t be

contained in their flight toward the postseason tournament title in

the city of Laguna Beach-sponsored Junior Basketball League playoffs.

Lawler poured in 42 points, and the Ducks claimed the crown by

upending the Tarheels, 50-38, in the tournament final Monday at

Laguna Beach High. His effort offset double digit scoring by Michael

McMullin (15) and Dylan Roley (12) of the Tarheels.

The Tarheels, coached by head coach Spencer Harrell and assistants

Jonathan Begay, Dan Darling and Tim Sanchez, contained Lawler in

first half play, holding him to five field goals and the rest of the

Ducks to one field goal by Cody Duplisea. In doing so, the Tarheels

were able to take a 23-17 halftime lead.

But the Ducks came back in the second half and outscored the

Tarheels, 33-15, over the final three quarters of a six-quarter game.

Lawler nearly swept the individual-player awards for the season,

as he won league top scorer and best offensive and best defensive

trophies.

Lawler became the third-highest scorer in the league’s history.

The Ducks, who won 12 straight games to end the season, are

composed of head coach Max Jaffe, assistants Christopher Belsius,

Joshua Cedeno and Marcus Harrison, and players Ryan Dietz, Reeve

Ghiass, Alec Jaffe, Zack Jaffe and Kyle Jenkins, who was recipient of

the league’s most improved player award, and Lawler.

The Tarheels squad also included Brent Donenfeld, Troy Donenfeld,

Kyle Dornan, Rand Hardy and Christian Kesler.

Final league records: Ducks, 9-1; Spurs, 7-3; Tarheels, 5-5,

Kings, 4-6, Hawks, 3-7, Artists, 2-8.

Final overall records: Ducks, 13-1; Spurts, 8-7, Kings, 8-8,

Tarheels, 7-8; Hawks, 4-; Artists, 2-11.

Top 10 scorers (player, team name, and avg. per game): Ryan

Lawler, Ducks, 37.8; Dylan Roley, Tarheels, 21.7; Erich Vickers,

Kings, 12.9; Jack Monroe, Kings, 15.6; Bryce Healey, Kings, 17.9;

Jason Colladay, Spurs, 15.8; Matthew Moisen, Kings, 14.3; Lance

Knapp, Artists, 17.8; Christian Kesler, Tarheels, 10.8; Matt Karam,

Spurs, 15.0.

Top five free-throw shooters (minimum 10 attempts, with player and

team names, made, attempted and percentage): Dylan Roley, Tarheels,

28/ 43, 65.1%; Jack Monroe, Kings, 14/22, 63.6%; Ryan Lawler, Ducks,

40/68, 58.8%; Erik Vasquez, Hawks, 7/12, 58.3%; Ricky Zona, Hawks,

7/12, 58.3%.

Top five three-point scorers (player, team, number of baskets) :

Dylan Roley, Tarheels, 34; Dylan McDonald, Artists, 22; Jack Monroe,

Kings, 20; Erik Vasquez, Hawks, 10; Erich Vickers, Kings, 10.