It was 38-7 at halftime and the Laguna Blanca starters were riding the pine for most of the game.
That’s how first-round playoff match-ups are sometimes.
Megan McAlister scored 13 points and freshman Zoe Serbin added nine with eight rebounds as the Condor League champion Owls overwhelmed visiting Waverly, 63-15, in a girls basketball playoff victory on Thursday at Merovick Gym.
While it was a lopsided contest, Laguna (12-7) had a memorable moment when junior Caroline Pickett buried a long-distance 3-pointer in the third quarter. It was only her second basket of the season, and her first at home. The frenzied Owls bench immediately launched into a rendition of “Sweet Caroline,” Neil Diamond’s karaoke classic.
Laguna Blanca’s Julia Kent runs the fast break.
“I didn’t think it was gonna go in. I thought is was gonna be an air-ball,” said Pickett. “It felt really good.”
McAlister, Serbin and Amanda Schulenberg (seven points) did all their damage in the first half, and Laguna had a 21-3 advantage after the first quarter ended. McAlister, the reigning Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Athlete of the Week, banked in a jumper to open the second quarter. Serbin followed by grabbing an offensive rebound and heaving the ball straight up, getting fouled as it came down through the hoop.
McAlister followed with an offensive board and a lay-up that made it 28-3 with six minutes left in the half.
Coach Ernie Quiroz highlighted the play of point guard Julia Kent, who ran the offense efficiently with eight assists and spent a lot of time on the hardwood diving for loose balls.
“She really goes after the ball and hustles all the time, which is really good for us. It kind of sets the tempo for out team,” he said.
Quiroz also gave credit to the Ravens (8-9) for fighting until the final buzzer, noting that the Owls have been in a similar situation.
“Earlier in the year we played Bishop Diego and didn’t score a point in the second half, so I know all about that feeling,” he said. “To their credit, they kept trying and kept playing hard.”
The Owls will face either sixth-seeded Hesperia Christian or unseeded Riverside Prep in Saturday’s second round.
LAGUNA BLANCA 63, WAVERLY 15
WAVERLY — Fonce 2, Lennon 2, Heredia 6, Jacobson 2, York 2. Totals 5 4-12 15.
LAGUNA BLANCA — Kent 3, Serbon 9, Nomura 6, Brown 8, Davis 4, Pickett 3, Schulenberg 7, Mashhoon 6, Bonser 4, McAlister 13. Totals 27 7-17 63.
Waverly…3 4 5 3 — 15
Laguna Blanca…21 17 13 8 — 63.
3-point goals — LB 2 (Kent, Pickett). Total fouls — LB 11, W 17.
