Girls basketball: Estancia in the finals

MISSION VIEJO - Estancia High senior Lauren Cassity scored a

game-high 20 points and the Eagles’ girls basketball team overcame a

sluggish start to defeat Santa Ana, 53-31, Thursday and earn a berth in

the Mission Viejo Tournament championship game Saturday.

The Eagles (7-1) rallied from a 7-5 first-quarter deficit and led, 22-17,

at halftime, before dominating the second half of their third straight

pool-play win.

They’ll face an opponent to be determined Saturday at 5 p.m. at Mission

Viejo High.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

Mission Viejo Tournament

Third-round pool play

Estancia 53, Santa Ana 31

Estancia 5 17 18 13 - 53

Santa Ana 7 10 8 6 - 31

Estancia - Cassity 20, Avalos 8, Byfield 7, Matsufuji 4, Vasquez 4,

Lenhart 3, Rodriguez 3, Hirata 2, Ollila 2, Barrera 0, Orellana 0, Villa

0.

3-pt. goals - Cassity 1, Lenhart 1, Byfield 1, Rodriguez 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.

Santa Ana - Chavez 10, Ruiz 9, Crandall 5, Arroyo 4, Bernal 2, Hernandez

1.

3-pt. goals - None.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.