Defense Carries Costa Mesa to Victory Over Azusa

Autumn Smith and Nancy Hatsushi each scored 14 points to help Costa Mesa defeat Azusa, 50-43, in the second round of the Southern Section Division III-AA girls’ basketball playoffs Thursday at Azusa.

Costa Mesa (18-10) advances to the quarterfinals to play the winner of Saturday’s game between second-seeded Torrance Bishop Montgomery and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Hatsushi made all six of her free throws in the closing minutes and Jenny Earnest had 11 of her 13 points in the second half to spark the Mustangs.

Smith scored her 14 points in the first half, making seven of 11 from the field, to help the Mustangs to a 17-15 lead. The rest of her teammates made only one of 17 in the first half, but Costa Mesa stayed in front with defense, forcing 14 turnovers.

“We played really good ‘D,’ ” Costa Mesa Coach Jim Weeks said. “We couldn’t buy a shot in the first half, but our defense kept us in.”

In Division III-AA first-round games:

Estancia 65, South Pasadena 35--Zuyin Barrera made four three-pointers and finished with 16 points for Estancia. The Eagles (17-9) advance to play at Pomona Ganesha.

Rosary 62, Los Angeles Immaculate Heart 40--Maggie Barnett had 21 points and seven steals and Jen Farner had 13 points, 17 rebounds and six steals for Rosary (20-8), which will meet West Hills Chaminade, a 55-39 winner over Santa Paula, in the second round.

In Division II-A:

Pacifica 72, Wildomar Elsinore 25--Diana Barreras had 18 points, eight assists and five steals for host Pacifica (19-7), which advanced to play Lakewood Mayfair, a 44-42 winner over La Puente.

Laguna Hills 64, Magnolia 51--Megan Aaker scored 30 points and Shannon Owens had 10 points and 14 rebounds for host Laguna Hills (14-13). The Hawks will next play Hacienda Heights Wilson, a 51-40 winner over La Habra.

In Division V-A:

Liberty Christian 62, Newbury Park Adventist 7--Stephanie Wu had 15 points and eight rebounds for host Liberty Christian (18-5), which advanced to play at Hesperia in the second round.

In Division V-AA wild-card games:

Brethren Christian 45, Fairmont 35--Heather Spowart scored 14 points and had 12 rebounds for host Brethren Christian (13-13), which advanced to play Ojai Thacher.

San Bernardino Aquinas 77, St. Margaret’s 37--Monique Kettler had 24 points, 12 rebounds and nine blocked shots for St. Margaret’s (8-12).

In a boys’ Division IV-A first-round game:

Calvary Chapel 72, Loma Linda Academy 54--Bryan Filkey had 20 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists for host Calvary Chapel (17-10), which advanced to play Milken Community, a 74-64 winner over St. Monica’s, in the second round.

In a Division V-A second-round game:

Heritage Christian 82, Ridgecrest Immanuel Christian 46--Ryan Meyer scored 22 points and Matt Winter added 19 for second-seeded Heritage Christian (22-4), which will play the winner of tonight’s West Valley Christian-Tarbut V’Torah game.