Mustangs are runnin’ and gunnin’

Bryce Alderton

No, it’s not a strong Santa Ana wind gust blowing through an open

gym door.

If you’re sitting close enough to the floor to notice your hair

whirl around, chances are it is a result of the Costa Mesa High girls

basketball team running down the court.

This year’s installment of the Mustangs, who reached the CIF

Playoffs for a 13th straight season last winter, will test their

opponents’ conditioning.

To make up for height lost from departing seniors such as 5-foot-9

Jasmine Grewal, 5-10 Christine Caron and 5-10 Lauren Carich, Mesa

Coach Jim Weeks will institute an aggressive full-court defense he

hopes will allow for more fast breaks.

“Last year we were taller with a half-court man defense but this

year we are shorter and quicker,” Weeks said. “We’re going to

pressure the whole court to create speed to make teams

uncomfortable.”

The Mustangs (12-16) finished last season with a 76-31 loss to

Rosary in the CIF Southern Section Division III-A opener.

The road to the playoffs will be different for Mesa this season as

it begins play in the Golden West League after competing with

Estancia in the Pacific Coast League.

Estancia, last season’s PCL champion, is the team to beat in the

league with Westminster hot on the Eagles’ heels, followed by Mesa

and Ocean View, Weeks said.

“We’re going to have to catch (Estancia and Westminster) on an off

night to compete with them,” Weeks said. “Last year the PCL was much

deeper so it was hard to make (the CIF Playoffs). But the teams at

the bottom of the Golden West are weaker than any teams in the PCL.”

Even with the league change Weeks knows his squad will have to

still get past what he terms the “untouchable teams” in CIF Division

III-A such as Rosary, Morningside, Harvard-Westlake and Bishop

Montgomery to win a CIF championship -- that is if Mesa finishes

fourth or better in league to make the CIF Playoffs.

“Those four teams are the class of Division III-A,” Weeks said.

“(Rosary) was bigger, quicker and more athletic than we were last

season. We know we have to work hard to get anything from Division

III-A.”

Weeks said workouts have gone well so far.

“I’m happy with the way the girls are practicing and they are

working really hard,” Weeks said.

Mesa’s starting lineup features four returners from last year’s

team, including 5-11 senior three guard Rhondi Naff, a first-team

All-Pacific Coast League selection last season, who averaged 16.3

points last season.

“She’s without a doubt the leader on the court,” Weeks said. “She

works 100% in each practice and has developed some good offensive

moves over the summer which will make her harder to guard. She works

hard to make herself better offensively and defensively.”

Joining Naff in the starting lineup are returners Cassey Brick, a

5-2 senior point guard, 5-5 senior shooting guard Stacee Sanchez and

5-8 senior Rickell Reeves.

Sanchez averaged 4.3 points last season while Reeves produced 3.3

per game.

“(Reeves) is very athletic in the high post for us,” Weeks said.

“She jumps real well and has developed into a strong player.”

Junior forward Ashley Kelly, who played at the junior varsity

level last season, rounds out Weeks’ starting lineup.

Five of eight Mesa seniors also include guards Denise Landeros

(5-2) and Lacey Navarrette (5-4), 5-6 forward Amy Langmos, 5-5

forward/center Lindsay Montoya and 6-foot center Christine Waggoner.

Juniors Susana Trujillo (5-6 guard) and Brittany Vergara (5-3

guard/forward) along with sophomores Heather Cluff (5-5

guard/forward) and Kally Kibin (5-foot guard) will provide support

for the Mustangs.

Weeks expects the defense to spark an exciting style of

basketball.

“The aggressive defense this season is going to be fun to watch,”

he said.

COSTA MESA

3 Amy Langmos 5-6 Sr.

5 Brittany Vergara 5-3 Jr.

11 Lacey Navarrette 5-4 Sr.

12 Kally Kibin 5-0 So.

13 Denise Landeros 5-2 Sr.

15 Susana Trujillo 5-6 Jr.

21 Stacee Sanchez 5-3 Sr.

24 Cassey Brick 5-2 Jr.

25 Ashley Kelly 5-5 Jr.

31 Christine Waggoner 6-0 Sr.

32 Rickell Reeves 5-8 Sr.

33 Rhondi Naff 6-0 Sr.

44 Lindsay Montoya 5-5 Sr.

55 Heather Cluff 5-5 So.

Coach: Jim Weeks