Girls Hoops: Mesa defense leads to win

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - When the Costa Mesa High girls basketball team is on

its game the Mustangs display a wear-them-out type defense by outhustling

and outmuscling the opposition.

Mesa was definitely on its game against Rubidoux as the Mustangs built

a 27-10 halftime lead that led to a 50-27 first-round victory in their

own tournament Wednesday.

Mesa, however, wasn’t entirely playing its brand of basketball,

according to Coach Jim Weeks.

“If we would’ve shot better,” he said. “We would’ve had a monster

(halftime) lead.”

The Mustangs (7-5) used a 12-0 run to close out the first half. Mesa

junior Christine Caron, who scored six points, grabbed an offensive

rebound and made a basket at the buzzer to cap the big lead.

Costa Mesa’s defense led to 16 turnovers by Rubidoux (1-6) in the

first half.

Sophomore Rhondi Naff came off the bench and led Mesa with 12 points,

while starting point guard Nancy Hatsushi finished with nine, including

two three-pointers.

Mesa opened the game with a 6-0 lead as Rubidoux started with five

straight turnovers. The 17-point halftime lead allowed Weeks to put in

his substitutes.

In the third quarter, the Mustangs caused six turnovers and held the

Falcons to three points. Rubidoux’s Mary Prator, who led the Falcons with

12 points, converted on a layup one minute into the quarter. And Vianey

Solano later made a free throw with 2 minutes remaining.

The Mustangs played a man-to-man defense and they extended the

pressure to full court after every converted basket by Mesa. Mustangs

senior Laura Muniz, who finished with three points, snagged four steals.

Hatsushi and Naff had three steals each.

“Our recipe (for winning) right now is our defense,” Weeks said. “We

work hard. We don’t quit.”

Costa Mesa will face Ocean View in the quarterfinals tonight at 8.

COSTA MESA WINTER CLASSIC

First Round

Costa Mesa 50, Rubidoux 27

Rubidoux 6 4 3 14 - 27

Costa Mesa 12 15 15 8 - 50

Rubidoux - Prator 12, Tibbits 6, M. Curtis 5, Morales 2, Solano 1, A.

Curtis 1.

3-pt. goals - none.

Fouled out - M. Curtis

Technicals - none.

Costa Mesa - Naff 12, Hatsushi 9, Caron 6, Cooper 4, Marshall 4, Muniz

3, Poncher 3, Trejo 3, Lazos 2, Bello 2, Carich 2.

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

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - team.