Tartans take over top spot

The Tartans assumed sole possession of the top spot in the city of

Laguna Beach’s sponsored Junior Basketball League by defeating the

previously undefeated Nuggets, 64-51, at Laguna Beach High.

Coach Billy Assaf’s Tartans raced to a 25-17 halftime lead and

led, 38-26, before the Nuggets made their move.

League scoring leader Dan Morrison erupted for 16 points and came

up with several steals as the Nuggets pulled to within 48-42 heading

into the final quarter.

Morrison recorded his fourth straight 30-point game with a

31-point performance.

Leading the Tartans was Hunter Steffien with 19 points, Scott DeYoung with 16 points and Tyler Stowers scored 10 points.

Mitchel McMullin added nine points for the Nuggets.

In other games:

Trojans 65, Kings 44

Nick Witte, in his first game as a Trojan, poured in 29 points as

the Kings fell from the ranks of the unbeatens.

The Kings played without Matthew Innins, sidelined with a broken

arm. Innins averaged 17 points per game and without him, the Kings

fell behind the Trojans, 42-15, at the half.

Shawn Chegini scored nine points and Bryce Healey and Dylan

McDonald each had eight points for the Trojans, who won their first

league game.

Jason House scored 17 points and Carter Russ scored 15 for the

Kings.

Artists 55, White Uniforms 45

With 6-foot-2 Warren Murrell in the lineup for the first time, the

Artists won their first league game by knocking off the White

Uniforms.

Murrell’s first outing resulted in a game-high 23 points.

His scoring off-set three White Uniform players in double-figures

as Dylan Roley scored 19 points, Austin Hyden scored 12 and Brooks

Roley scored 10 points.

Ducks 57, Lakers 39

Dylan Doumeng and Matthew Karam scored 22 and 20 points,

respectively, to lead the Ducks.

Alex Vasquez scored 20 points and Armand Begay added 11 more for

the Lakers.

The standings: 1. Tartans, 3-0; 2T. Ducks, Kings, Nuggets, 2-1;

5T. White Uniforms, Artists, Trojans, 1-2; 8. Lakers, 0-3.