Girls basketball: Mustangs rally, 57-40

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - As its season continued to crumble due to shooting

woes, the inability to handle full-court pressure and defensive lapses,

the Costa Mesa High girls basketball team learned Thursday night that

attitude can indeed be everything.

Trailing, 17-5, almost 10 minutes into what was quickly shaping up as

their fifth straight loss, the Mustangs collectively conspired to stop

the madness.

“I think the girls just decided (the Trojans) weren’t going to do that to

us,” Mesa Coach Jim Weeks said.

Mesa rallied to within 21-18 by halftime, then pummeled the visitors in

the second half to claim a 57-40 Pacific Coast League triumph and fortify

its rapidly receding confidence.

“I really feel good about the way we played after the first quarter and I

hope our girls do too,” Weeks said. “Uni came out and played hard, like

teams have done against us during league. The word around the league is,

‘Play hard and pressure us and we’re going to wilt.’ But then, bodies

started hitting the ground and we started to play with a lot more

energy.”

The Mustangs dived for loose balls, banged inside and tugged aggressively

on dual-possession calls.

They also began hitting shots (14 for 28 after intermission), hitting the

offense boards, and turning up the defensive dial to ensure the Trojans

(9-14, 1-4 in league) were the ones who withered.

The win improved Mesa, ranked No. 8 in CIF Southern Section Division

III-AA, to 14-9, 4-2. The Mustangs share second place with Estancia, 1

1/2 games behind Corona del Mar, which was idle Tuesday.

Mesa is off Thursday, before closing out league play at Laguna Beach

(Feb. 8) and at CdM (Feb. 10).

Barbara Trejo (two third-quarter three-pointers) and Laura Muniz (five

points) came off the bench to add a spark.

But the true catalysts were All-CIF veterans Autumn Smith, Jenny Earnest

and Nancy Hatsushi, the first two having been among three players honored

before tipoff on senior night.

Smith made her final five field-goal attempts to finish with 16 points

and 13 rebounds.

Earnest chipped in 14 points, four steals, four assists and four

rebounds, while Hatsushi, a junior point guard, amassed 10 points, 10

assists and seven steals.

Earnest, whose relentless effort was contagious, made a layup and a

15-footer to spark a 13-2 run early in the second quarter, drawing the

hosts within 19-18.

After Uni pushed the lead to 25-18 one minute into the third quarter,

three Earnest foul shots triggered a 15-1 blitz, which put the Mustangs

ahead for good.

Trejo’s two treys came during this surge, which included seven of

University’s 31 turnovers.

University senior Reagan Anders typified the Trojans’ determination,

collecting 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Uni’s 5-3 guards Kristen Yeo and Peggie Wu, also showed no fear,

penetrating all night to combine for 16 points, nine rebounds and four

steals.

Wu was knocked to the floor twice, hitting the back of her head each

time, prompting Uni Coach Bob Bernal to ask Weeks “Are your guys trying

to put us in the hospital?”

Weeks addressed Bernal’s concerns afterward, as both shook hands,

assuring the Uni coach physical harm was not Mesa’s intent.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

Pacific Coast League

Costa Mesa 57, University 40

Score by Quarters

University 8 13 6 13 - 40

Costa Mesa 5 13 18 21 - 57

University - Anders 17, Yeo 9, Wu 7, Janda 4, von Tungeln 2, Ariazand 1.

3-pt. goals - Anders 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - Coach Bernal 1.

Costa Mesa - Smith 16, Earnest 14, Hatsushi 10, Trejo 8, Muniz 5, Caron

2, Marshall 2, Hitt 0, Cooper 0, Lazos 0.

3-pt. goals - Trejo 2, Hatsushi 2.

Fouled out - Trejo.

Technicals - Muniz 1.