SHADOWLANDS

Looking back, 5 years ago this week.

The Estancia High girls basketball team improves to 9-0 with a 58-18

demolition over visiting Palm Desert. Eagles senior point guard Jessica

Waltz leads with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Jill Black adds 11

points and Jennifer McMartin chips in with eight points and a game-high

12 boards.

The Corona del Mar girls basketball team shoots down visiting

Saddleback, 60-43, as Jennifer Gardner rules in the paint. She scores a

game-high 26 points as the Roadrunners do little to stop her. And

whenever they do stop her Melissa Ford (12 points) and Nicole Adams (10)

knock down outside shots.

Costa Mesa’s Mike Montoya and Tuan Do score 18 and 16 points,

respectively, as both connect on four three-pointers each to lead the

Mustangs’ boys basketball team past St. Augustine, 54-50, in consolation

action of the San Dieguito Tournament. Mesa ends the tourney with three

losses settled by a total of four points, one in double overtime.

Jason Ferguson, the 24-year-old coach of the Costa Mesa boys

basketball team, directs the Mustangs while dealing with chemotherapy as

he is diagnosed with cancer. A month later, he dies. But, he leaves an

impression that will never be forgotten at Mesa. “I have a strong belief

in God and I still think something positive is going to happen from

this,” Ferguson says.

The Estancia boys basketball team squeaks past host Capistrano Valley,

73-70. Chris Candlish and Dane Plock combine for 49 points. Sam Nelson

chips in with 12 points. Candlish also grabs 10 rebounds and has four

blocks.

Looking back, 10 years ago this week.

Corona del Mar High’s John Upham scores 28 points to lead the Sea

Kings’ boys basketball team to a 65-52 victory over Sana Ana in the first

round of the Irvine World News Tournament. Jeff Orris scores 12 points

and Jason Clark adds 11 as Doug Hesse finishes with nine points and 10

rebounds.

The Estancia boys basketball team rolls past visiting Santa Ana

Valley, 65-50, as the Eagles’ game is almost outshined by baseball coach

Paul Troxel. He asks Debbie Scott to marry him, during halftime, with the

help of cheerleaders and a banner. Matt Fuerbringer leads the Eagles,

scoring a game-high 23 points and Mike Haas finishes with 13. And,

another highlight: She says yes.

The Newport Harbor boys basketball team takes out Dana Hills, 52-46,

in the San Dieguito Tournament. The Tars outscore Dana Hills, 10-2, in

the third quarter. Huy Nguyen scores 18 points and Justin McIntee earns a

double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Mike Klytta scores a

career-high 11 points. McIntee scores a career-high of his own with 36,

and he grabs 17 rebounds to lead the Sailors to fourth place of the

tourney with a 72-64 victory over Rancho Bueno Vista.

Estancia’s Melody Earle scores 20 points and dishes out 11 assists to

lead the Eagles girls basketball team to a 73-48 victory over Trabuco

Hills for the championship in the Bolsa Grande Tournament. Earle is

awarded the tourney’s Most Valuable Player. Patrice Lumpkin scores 21

points and Monique Sweet finishes with 18, as both earn all-tournament

honors.

The Newport Harbor girls basketball team wins the consolation

championship of the Bolsa Grande Tournament. Maureen McLaren leads the

way for the Tars with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Michela Ross, who earns

all-tournament honors, adds 15 points. Jenni Hall scores 14 points. And,

Helle Myrup chips in with eight points, nine rebounds and eight assists.