Girls basketball: Mesa reaches tourney finals

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Ever the humanitarian, Costa Mesa High’s girls

basketball coach Jim Weeks saw Jenny Earnest hunched over during a free

throw, battling fatigue and the flu and told his senior that, “You can

take a break in a minute.”

There was 1:10 remaining in the game.

Earnest’s smile was all she could respond with as she helped lead the

Mustangs into the finals of the Costa Mesa Tournament for the first time

since 1992 following Wednesday night’s 55-46 win over Mission Viejo.

Tonight’s final, the third appearance by the Mustangs in the tourney’s

17-year history, will be against Villa Park at 8 at the Mustangs’ gym.

“This is the first time I’ve taken a team to the finals of this

thing,” Weeks said. “I’m so proud of our team and how they refuse to quit

out there.”

Not only did Earnest score 10 points, but her stingy defense limited

the Diablos’ top scorer, Meghan O’Donohue to only 12 points, including

zero in the fourth quarter. O’Donohue had scored 23 and 22 points

respectively in her last two games.

“Jenny’s all heart out there,” Weeks said. “Most players wouldn’t even

try to play tonight the way she feels. She’s just a great all-around

player for us.”

Her defense along with clutch free throws from junior Nancy Hatsushi

were the difference for the Mustangs (9-4). Fourteen of Hatsushi’s

game-high 17 points came at the free-throw line, including 10 in the

fourth quarter.

“She’s the girl that gets the ball for us down the stretch,” Weeks

said. “I have a ton of confidence in her during clutch time.”

In fact, Mesa outscored Mission Viejo, 26-16, from the charity stripe

for the game.

Mesa’s Autumn Smith had 11 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots,

while Hatsushi dished out seven assists.

Despite shooting 4 for 17 from the field in the first quarter, the

Mustangs’ defense had four steals which helped preserve a two-point lead.

The Diablos (7-7) also put together a strong defensive game plan and

kept the game close going into the second half.

“Mission Viejo has an excellent program,” Weeks said. “Their coaching

staff really has their team going in the right direction.”

Julie Hitt drained a three-pointer to start the third quarter which

gave the Mustangs their biggest lead of the game at 21-16.

Mission Viejo got as close as 27-25, before three Mesa free throws

pushed the lead back to five heading into the fourth quarter.

Mesa extended the lead to seven early in the fourth, but a 6-0 run by

the Diablos trimmed the lead down to one with 5:26 remaining.

The Mustangs responded with a 9-0 run of their own, including clutch

three-pointers by Christine Caron and Barbara Trejo that gave Mesa a

10-point lead with 3:30 remaining.

Trejo and Caron each finished with seven points.

“Those threes were so huge for us,” Weeks said.

After a 7-0 run by Mission Viejo cut the lead to 41-38 with 2:48 left,

it became a game of free throws.

Mesa rose to the challenge and made 17 of 21 in the quarter, including

9-for-10 shooting from Hatsushi in the final two minutes.

“Our kids are playing with a lot of heart,” Weeks said. “Some kids are

battling the flu and they’re still trying to get in the game. I couldn’t

be more proud.”

O’Donohue’s 12 points and Jen Martin’s 11 led the Diablos’ offense.

COSTA MESA TOURNAMENT

Championship semifinals

Costa Mesa 55, Mission Viejo 46

Mission Viejo 8 8 9 21 - 46

Costa Mesa 10 8 12 25 - 55

Mission Viejo - O’Donohue 12, Martin 11, O’Donnell 9, Mecham 7, Miller

7.

3 pt. goals - none.

Fouled out - Mecham, Martin.

Costa Mesa - Hatsushi 17, Smith 11, Earnest 10, Trejo 7, Caron 7, Hitt

3, Muniz 0, Marshall 0.

3 pt. goals - Trejo 2, Hatsushi 1, Caron 1, Hitt 1.

Fouled out - none.