Girls basketball: Mustangs prevail

IRVINE - The Costa Mesa High girls basketball team overcame a

first-half scare to defeat host Northwood, 41-38, in Pacific Coast League

action Thursday night.

“Northwood played well, but we were able to squeak this one out,” Mesa

Coach Jim Weeks said.

Sophomore Rhondi Naff led the Mustangs (14-10, 5-3 in league) with 14

points, while senior guard Nancy Hatsushi added 11 points, six rebounds,

eight assists and six steals.

“Just another day in the office for Nancy,” Weeks said.

The Mustangs are only one game behind Estancia, Corona del Mar and

University for the top spot in the PCL, thanks to the Sea Kings’ 47-46

win over the Eagles.

Costa Mesa fell behind, 19-15, after the first half, thanks to the

strong play of Timberwolves’ junior guard Elmira Rezaei, who finished

with 24 points.

But Costa Mesa bounced back and outscored Northwood, 26-19, in the

second half.

The Mustangs will continue PCL action Tuesday night at Laguna Beach,

before concluding the week at Corona del Mar. Both games are at 5:30 p.m.

as part of a boy-girl doubleheader. “It should be a very interesting

week,” Weeks predicted.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Costa Mesa 41, Northwood 38

Costa Mesa 11 4 12 14 - 41

Northwood 10 9 9 10 - 38

Costa Mesa - Naff 13, Hatsushi 11, Muniz 6, Marshall 5, Lazos 3, Caron

2, Cooper 1, Trejo 0, Carich 0.

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

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.

Northwood - Rezaei 24, Lipscomb 11, Miles 3, Albaugh 0, Nichols 0.

3-pt. goals - Rezaei 3.

Fouled out - Nichols.

Technicals - none.