Girls basketball: Courting postseason hopes again

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - For three years, Costa Mesa High girls basketball

coach Jim Weeks never had to worry about ball handling, running an

offense or breaking a press.

Just give the ball to point guard Nancy Hatsushi and let the rest of

the Mustangs fall into place.

After having been slightly spoiled by last year’s Newport-Mesa

District co-Player of the Year and second-team All-CIF Southern Section

Division III selection, the 2001-02 Mustangs are finding that the

aforementioned fundamentals aren’t so easy anymore.

“Now we’re struggling, but if we correct those mistakes we’ve got a

chance (to succeed),” Weeks said. “The girls have a great attitude and

it’s a great team to be with, because there are so many great

personalities.”

With six returning varsity players, including two starters who earned

a degree of All-Pacific Coast League status last season, Costa Mesa is

primed for another playoff run and winning season.

“We have a lot of good things going for us,” said Weeks, whose squad

last year (16-13, 6-4 in the PCL) qualified for the CIF playoffs,

extending Costa Mesa’s streak of reaching the postseason to 12 years.

“Obviously making the playoffs is the first goal as a team. You always

want to go to the playoffs,” he added. “That means you have to finish in

the top three in your league (for an automatic berth), and, this year

it’s going to be tough, because Estancia’s really loaded.

“As far as I’m concerned, nobody should be able to play against (the

Eagles). But we want to get the (perpetual) Bell (trophy) back ... we

have a three-game losing streak to them. If we can beat Estancia, then

we’ve got a shot at the league championship, because (the Eagles) are

tough.”

Forward Christine Caron, a 6-foot senior, is the top returning player

from last season’s team that beat San Clemente and lost to Morningside in

the playoffs, after battling an unusual PCL campaign, which included two

victories over league champion University (the Trojans’ only PCL

setbacks) and a pair of losses each to Estancia and Corona del Mar.

Caron, a second-team All--Pacific Coast League performer last season

who averaged 5.8 points per game throughout the season, was a big reason

Mesa beat Uni twice, Weeks said, because of her strong defense at the

post.

“Christine dominated those games,” Weeks said. “We’re counting on her

to be tough this year, too.”

Guard Rhondi Naff, a 5-11 junior, is also a returning starter who

averaged nearly nine points a game last year, meriting honorable mention

all-league laurels. Naff started some games as a freshman.

“She works both ends of the court real well,” Weeks said of Naff.

“She’s a good three-point shooter, she’s good at driving to the basket

and she’s good on defense. She’ll be a tough matchup for people.”

Senior point guard Eileen Bello, 5-4, senior guard Crystina Poncher

(5-5) and senior centers Jasmine Grewal (5-8) and Lauren Carich (5-11)

are also returning varsity players. Poncher, Grewal and Caron are the

Mustangs’ captains.

Carich is expected to get the nod for game-opening tipoffs, while

Caron patrols the other starting position underneath for the Mustangs.

Naff starts at a wing, Bello at point and newcomer Stacee Sanchez, a 5-4

junior, will start at two guard.

“She’s got explosive speed,” Weeks said of Sanchez, up from the junior

varsity. “She’s going to be one of the finest defensive players on our

team. She’ll start until (Poncher) gets back healthy (from neck and back

injuries suffered in a car accident two weeks ago).”

Caron’s season will also begin slowly, after suffering a sprained

ankle in travel ball about six weeks ago, while Bello missed a week of

practice because of pain in her foot.

Other Costa Mesa newcomers include sophomore point guard Cassey Brick,

5-2, senior guard Deniz Akansel, 5-5, junior forward Rickell Reeves, 5-8,

junior guard Denise Landeros, 5-2, and senior guard Daniella Bolzmann,

5-3.

Akansel pulled a hamstring muscle two weeks ago and is also

hobbling.”Our injury list is pretty remarkable,” Weeks said.

COSTA MESA GIRLS

10 Crystina Poncher 5-5 Sr.

11 Jasmine Grewal 5-9 Sr.

12 Daniella Bolzmann 5-4 Sr.

13 Denise Landeros 5-3 Jr.

14 Christine Caron 5-10 Sr.

21 Stacee Sanchez 5-5 Jr.

24 Cassey Brick 5-2 So.

25 Eileen Bello 5-5 Sr.

31 Deniz Akansel 5-5 Sr.

32 Rickell Reeves 5-8 Jr.

33 Rhondi Naff 5-11 Jr.

35 Lauren Carich 5-10 Sr.

Coach: Jim Weeks