Girls basketball: Small victories

Steve Virgen

FULLERTON - Facing Troy High, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, in

Thursday’s Troy Tournament semifinal, Corona del Mar High girls

basketball coach Elbert Davis was seeking the little victories, not the

big upset.

And there were plenty of little victories to go with a big loss, as

Troy (3-0) scored a 64-40 victory to knock CdM (3-1) into tonight’s 6:30

third-place game against Capistrano Valley.

Among those little victories was a 15-14 CdM edge in the second

quarter, after the host Warriors outscored the visitors, 21-5, the first

eight minutes.

The biggest little victory was Troy keeping its starters in through

the fourth quarter with a 25-point lead.

“This is going to send a message to Orange County that Troy is

beatable,” Davis said. “Our girls showed a lot of spirit and didn’t

quit.”Troy scored the first 13 points, before Courtney Kawata hit a free

throw with 3:42 left in the first quarter.

CdM did not score from the field until Jackie McCoy hit a

three-pointer with 6:20 left in the first half.

The Warriors pressed after each basket and caused 13 first-quarter turnovers.

CdM senior Kristin McCoy had 11 of her team-high 16 points in the second half.

“We knew we had to play a full game,” Davis said. “We lost by 24, and

most teams lose to Troy by 50. That’s a victory.”

CdM was without starting point guard Andrea Gruber, who missed the

game with the flu.

TROY TOURNAMENT

Championship semifinal

Troy 64, Corona del Mar 40

Score by Quarters

Corona del Mar 5 15 10 10 - 40

Troy 21 14 20 9 - 64

Corona del Mar - K. McCoy 16, Kawata 6, J. McCoy 4, Klien 4, Alateha

4, Pham 2, Otterbien 2, Hawkins 2, Snell 0, Marks 0, Meservey 0.

3-pt. goals - Kawata 1, J. McCoy 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.

Troy - Komaki 17, Givens-Davis 15, Johns-Richardson 14, Livingston 9,

McGuire 6, Johns 2, Oshiro 1.

3-pt. goals - Komaki 3, Johns-Richardson 2.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.