Girls basketball: Eagles fly past University

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Four solid quarters from Lauren Cassity and one minute

of hot shooting from Becky Lenhart were all Estancia High’s girls

basketball team would need in Thursday’s 66-43 Pacific Coast League rout

over visiting University.

Cassity led the Eagles with 22 points, while Lenhart added 12 points, all

on three-point baskets.

Despite the heroics from Cassity and Lenhart, Coach Paul Kirby was

especially pleased with his entire team’s performance.

“We played well from top to bottom,” Kirby said. “We had a lot of people

do a lot of good things out there.”

After the Eagles (11-9, 2-2 in league) jumped out to a six-point,

first-quarter lead, University (7-13, 1-3) hung tough, thanks to the

solid play of Reagan Anders. She finished with a team-high 17 points.

Uni cut the lead to two early in the second quarter, before Lenhart went

to work.

Following two made free throws from Erika Avalos, Lenhart found the hot

hand, connecting on three consecutive three-pointers in a one-minute

span, turning a four-point lead into a comfortable 23-10 cushion.

“They were playing a zone and we really shoot better against the zone

defense,” Kirby said. “We were able to execute our offense and find our

outside shooter. Fortunately, Becky was able to knock them down.”

University would not be able to recover from that shooting streak. The

Trojans got as close as nine three different times, but Estancia was able

to hold them off.

“You could almost see the other team drop their heads after that,” Kirby

said.

The Eagles’ full-court press, the key in their comeback win over

Saddleback on Tuesday, was just as tough on Thursday, forcing 18 Uni

turnovers.

With a rematch against Costa Mesa next on the Eagles’ schedule, Kirby

will be not only look to Cassity to continue her stellar overall play,

but will also look for continued strong play from the entire Eagles’

squad.

“We’re definitely gonna need Lauren to be at her best,” Kirby said. “But

we’re also going to have to have a more balanced attack like we did

tonight.”

To illustrate Kirby’s point, eight different Eagles scored, with six

scoring six points or more.

Estancia’s Marie Rodriguez chipped in with eight points off the bench,

while Claudia Villa added six in reserve.

Thursday’s showdown with the Mustangs will Thursday night at 7 in Mesa’s

gym.

“That’s going to be a huge game for us,” Kirby, a master of the obvious,

said.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUEEstancia 66, University 43

University 6 17 10 10 - 43

Estancia 12 21 19 14 - 66

University - Anders 17, Atiba 7, Yeo 5, von Tunglen 4, Farrell 4, Wu 2,

Arazand 2, Gee 2.

3 pt. goals - Yeo 1.

Fouled out - None.

Estancia - Cassity 22, Lenhart 12, Rodriguez 8, Villa 6, Byfield 6,

Hirata 6, Avalos 4, Barrera 2, Matsufuji 0, Ollila 0, Vasquez 0.

3 pt. goals - Lenhart 4, Rodriguez 2.

Fouled out - none.