PHOTOS: Woodridge breaks through in third quarter and tops Uni 68-53 to earn PCL title

Steve Scoggin, in his first season as Woodbridge coach, celebrated a PCL title after the game. (Photos Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

One of the first persons to congratulate first-year Woodbridge High boys basketball coach Steve Scoggin Friday on the Warriors league title was former coach John Halagan, who retired at the end of last season.

Halagan was seated across the way during the Pacific Coast League game Friday afternoon at Woodbridge and had to be pleased to see his former team capture a 68-53 victory over a determined University team in the Pacific Coast League finale for both teams.

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The victory allowed the Warriors to capture the outright league title, the first for the program since 2014.

“The kids did it, they bought into the culture that we wanted to bring,” said Scoggin, Halagan’s long-time assistant. “These kids came together as a group with the COVID and all this stuff that was going on. It was one of those things where every day it was different. There was a different animal and a different beast in that it could change like an instant. The kids one through 15 just bought into everything.”

Woodbridge (11-3, 10-1) and Beckman (10-5, 8-2) had been tied for the league lead but last week’s showdown for first place was cancelled due to a positive case among the Beckman program, according to Patriots Coach John Goins. The game was not rescheduled. The Patriots missed out on sharing the league title when Portola defeated Beckman 57-52 Thursday night.

Friday afternoon, University (1-12, 1-10) battled from start to finish. It was senior night for Woodbridge and Scoggin started an all senior lineup in the first quarter, holding out some key starters.

“We started our seniors,” Scoggin said. “It was senior night, so we started them. I wanted them to play as long as they possibly can and they came in and played well.”

The game was tied 29-29 after one quarter and 33-33 at halftime.

But Woodbridge outscored University 26-12 in the third quarter to take control.

“That’s Uni, it’a always been like that,” Scoggin said. “And I told the guys that they’re going to come in and play their butt off and they’re not going to quit just because it’s the last game, and expect a dogfight.”

Junior point guard Marly Jaisel scored 20 points, 12 coming in the third quarter, to lead the Warriors. Junior guard Josh Lomboy had nine points and senior forward Marcus Hooshmand added eight points for Woodbridge.

Senior guard Eli Hill had seven points for Woodbridge.

“The one thing about this team is, it’s all of them and that’s what I want,” Scoggin said. “Every night it’s a different leading scorer and that’s what I want. I want mulitple guys in the scoring column. I don’t just want to have one superstar. It’s a team effort and it’s team basketball and that’s what I love about this group.”

University was led by Myles Alpha, who had 12 points and Joseph Purser who had 11 points.

Attendance at Friday’s game was limited to fans who were on a list at front of the gymnasium and fans were required to wear masks, following COVID protocol. Fans sat on one side of the gymnasium and were socially distanced.

—-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com