Girls basketball: Freedom of speech

Barry Faulkner

Talk may indeed be cheap. But when it comes to motivating athletes,

there can be plenty of value in verbiage.

The latter may be the case for the girls basketball teams from

Estancia and Costa Mesa high schools, which renew their crosstown rivalry

in a Pacific Coast League clash Tuesday at 7 p.m. on the Eagles’ floor.

“Our kids see their kids and they talk,” Estancia Coach Paul Kirby

said. “Things are said on both sides.”

The she said, she said factor is one of many motivational elements for

the Eagles and Mustangs, who find themselves on opposite ends of the

league standings after two league games.

Estancia (9-9, 2-0 in the PCL), remains on track to earn its first

league title since 1991, after a three-point win over Northwood and a

38-point romp over Corona del Mar.

A win over the Mustangs would leave only Laguna Beach, with 55

straight league losses, between the Eagles and what figures to be a Jan.

22 first-place showdown at University (2-0 in league).

Coach Jim Weeks’ Mustangs (6-11, 0-2) were beaten by Uni and Northwood

last week and are set to face CdM two days after battling Estancia.

Though the Eagles are the clear favorite, Kirby is taking nothing for

granted against Mesa. But, he admits, a letdown is not among his

concerns.

“Our girls have been fired up about the Costa Mesa game from the

get-go,” Kirby said. “This game is more emotional than predictable.”

Adding to the crosstown friction this season is the fact that Eagle

starters Xochitl Byfield, Trisha Wase and Crystal Mino, all attended

junior high on the Costa Mesa campus.

Byfield (10.2 points per game), fellow junior Tisha Gray (13.7 ppg)

and Wase (9.6 ppg), a sophomore point guard, are the key performers for

the Eagles.

Mesa on a three-game losing streak, is paced by junior Rhondi Naff

(16.3 ppg, but only 7 ppg in league).

Also at stake is a share of the perpetual Lady Bell trophy, which goes

to the annual Mesa-Estancia series winner. Estancia, which swept the

Mustangs last season to end a two-year Mesa reign, has won the trophy

four times in its seven years of existence.

CdM (6-10, 1-1), which hosts University Tuesday, needs a victory this

week to remain in strong contention for one of the league’s three

guaranteed CIF Southern Section playoff berths.

Meanwhile, in the Sea View League, Newport Harbor (3-15, 0-2) visits

Laguna Hills Tuesday, then Woodbridge Thursday.

Sage Hill is at Academy League rival St. Margaret’s Tuesday, before

hosting Oxford Academy Thursday.