Mesa’s D does it

COSTA MESA — Michelle Figueroa kept popping the cough drops into her mouth, allowing her to soothe her throat.

They also let her play for the Costa Mesa High girls’ basketball team in a rivalry game at Estancia Friday night.

She delivered crisp pass after crisp pass, finding the defensive holes and getting the ball to center Jasmine Werdel down low.

Werdel scored a game-high 13 points, most of the opportunities came on Figueroa’s eight assists, as the Mustangs won, 43-31, in an Orange Coast League game.

“It felt great beating Estancia, but it also felt weird. I had one [cough drop] every time I came out,” said Figueroa, the guard who added five points and five rebounds. “I’ve been sick for a week.”

Figueroa’s court vision made Estancia Coach Tommy Rausch appear a little ill on the sideline.

Estancia (6-10, 1-2 in league) couldn’t prevent Figueroa from lobbing the ball into the 5-foot-11 Werdel. From the start, Figueroa, from behind the three-point line, hit Werdel down low.

Rausch couldn’t believe the non-pressure on Figueroa, shaking his head. Costa Mesa Coach Jim Weeks loved it.

“She could potentially be a really good point guard,” said Weeks of Figueroa, a junior. “She made some good plays when we needed her to.”

Costa Mesa (9-10, 2-1) delivered a knockout punch late in the second half. The biggest shots came from Denise Rosello off the bench. She hit back-to-back three-pointers, the last one put Costa Mesa up, 22-12.

Michelle Hallock led Estancia with 11 points and eight rebounds, but the forward didn’t receive as many looks as Rausch would’ve liked.

Costa Mesa collapsed on Hallock, as the Eagles were without senior shooter Alondra Barrera, who was on crutches with a foot injury.

“They did a good job getting us out of our offense,” said Rausch, adding that Barrera will receive x-rays on her foot Monday.

Orange Coast League

Costa Mesa 43,

Estancia 31

Score by Quarters

Costa Mesa

12

13

12

6

—

43

Estancia

4

8

9

10

—

31

Costa Mesa -- Werdel 13, Gentling 7, Rosello 6, Courtney 6, Figueroa 5, Brannon 4, Trinh 2.

3-pt. goals -- Rosello 2, Figueroa 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Estancia -- Hallock 11, Arroyo 10, Monteiro 5, Koff 3, Williams 2.

3-pt. goals -- None.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- Arroyo, bench.