Mustangs fall in first round of playoffs

Steve Virgen

Though Rosary High basically ended the game in the first seven

minutes, Costa Mesa High girls basketbal coach Jim Weeks remained

content, and even optimistic of his program’s future.

Weeks maintained pride for his team after the Mustangs lost, 76-31, at

Rosary in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Divsion III-A

playoffs Thursday. The setback marked the first time Mesa had been

knocked out in a playoff opener since 1997 when Rosary eliminated the

Mustangs in III-A first round, 66-60.

“This doesn’t take anything away from how we came back this season,”

Weeks said of Mesa winning four of its last five. “We were beaten by the

better team. I told (the Mustangs), a win would be a major upset.

(Rosary) just wouldn’t let us do what we wanted.”

The Royals (16-13), the Serra League’s runner-up, built a 22-0 lead in

the first seven minutes. Mesa junior Rhondi Naff broke up the shutout

with a drive along the baseline followed by a lay-in with 40 seconds left

in the opening quarter. Naff, who led the Mustangs with 13 points, scored

again with 10 seconds left when she went coast to coast after grabbing a

defensive rebound.

Mesa got as close as 29-12, with 3:00 left in the first half after

Naff drove and pulled up for a 10-foot jumper. But Rosary fired off a

12-2 run to close out the half with a 41-14 lead.

Rosary caused turnovers and outrebounded the Mustangs, 21-11, in the

first half, including, 8-0, on the offensive boards.