Girls basketball: Estancia gets by Laguna Beach

Joseph Boo

COSTA MESA - Thursday’s Pacific Coast League game between Estancia

High and league-leader Corona del Mar’s girls basketball team is a big

one. The Eagles, tied for second in the PCL, could nab a CIF Southern

Section Division III playoff spot while keeping CdM from clinching a

share of the league title. Yep, Thursday’s a big day.

Oh wait, Estancia also had to play Tuesday, against PCL’s last-place

team, Laguna Beach. The 0-20 Artists, 0-6 in league, are headed for a

winless season and need an act of God from several religions to avoid it.

Although that didn’t happen, the Gods at least winked at the Artists.

Estancia was caught looking ahead and struggled before it pulled out a

62-37 winner at home.

“Could you tell?” Estancia Coach Paul Kirby sarcastically said about his

team’s focus on CdM.

Well, a 28-20 halftime lead by the Eagles (13-9, 4-2 in league) was a

pretty good tip-off. Laguna Beach actually outscored the Eagles, 12-8, in

the second quarter. This against a team Estancia hammered badly, 74-23,

in the previous meeting.

“They worked hard,” Kirby said about the Artists. “And we were looking

ahead. They’re probably headed to an 0-23 record, but you couldn’t tell

by the way they played tonight.”

Laguna Beach broke down Estancia’s defense at times, spearheaded by Renee

Ouimette, who had a team-high 10 points.

Nevertheless, Laguna Beach had no answer against Estancia senior Lauren

Cassity, who drove maniacally to the basket for a game-high 29 points.

Twenty-six of her points came in the paint, the other three coming from

free throws. Cassity blew away what little chance Laguna Beach had of

winning in the second half, scoring 19 as Estancia pulled away.

Senior Becky Lenhart was second among Estancia’s scorers with nine points

on three three-pointers. Rounding out Estancia’s trio of senior night

honorees, Jennifer Ollila had six points and four steals.

Junior Lisa Hirata also had a nice game for the Eagles, with six points,

eight assists and six steals.

“We were looking to play everybody, and everybody did, so that was nice,”

Kirby said.

And Estancia can finally start preparing for CdM.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Estancia 62, Laguna Beach 37

Score by Quarters

Laguna Beach 8 12 10 7 - 37

Estancia 20 8 17 17 - 62

Laguna Beach - Ouimette 10, Schmalzried 9, Morales 8, Offield 4, Dick 0,

Duffy 4, Maloney 2.

3-pt. goals - None.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.

Estancia - Cassity 29, Lenhart 9, Hirata 6, Ollila 6, Matsufuji 0,

Barrera 5, Byfield 2, Orellana 4, Rodriguez 0, Vasquez 0, Villa 0, Avalos

1.

3-pt. goals - Lenhart 3, Barrera 1, Hirata 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.