Girls’ basketball: Engeln soars but Hawks are a target

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Dropped in on Laguna Hills for its girls’ basketball playoff opener. After receiving a first-round bye, the top-seeded Hawks defeated Banning, 66-48, in the second round in Division IV-A.

Ah, it would do the Hawks (20-6) well to listen to their coaches, who seem convinced that the players don’t fully grasp what it is to be No. 1. ‘Every team is gunning for you,’ Coach Jim Martin said. ‘You have a target on your back.’

Perfect example: Banning, which dropped to 14-14 after the loss, trailed after one quarter, 14-7, fell behind a little more, then pulled to within three points, 26-23, with a little more than a minute left in the first half.

Fortunately for Laguna Hills, it had an answer: A 9-1 run to close the half for a 35-24 lead.

Lauren Engeln, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, finished with 25 points and 19 rebounds. It was the first time I’ve had a chance to see her. She looked a little gawky at times. Part of that is being a sophomore, the other part ‘is we ask her to do everything,’ Martin said. ‘She brings the ball up court, then moves into the post.’ She’s got a nice touch around the basket, and Martin is already fielding calls from colleges about her. She’s going to be very good.

I believe Laguna Hills will successfully defend its Division IV-A title, but it will be a lot easier if players realize they don’t win games simply by showing up. The coaches are right. Everyone brings their ‘A’ game when they’re playing the favorite. You can count on eighth-seeded Murrieta Calvary Chapel bringing its best for the next playoff game at LH on Wednesday.

-- Martin Henderson

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