Mustangs’ heart not enough

Steve Virgen

Costa Mesa High girls basketball coach Jim Weeks calls his 2003-04

team his hardest working squad in his 12 years at the helm.

On Thursday night, the Mustangs nearly willed themselves to an

upset win. However, they seemingly needed one more big shot or one

more big play in a 49-41 Golden West League loss to visiting

Westminster.

Costa Mesa (7-10, 1-4 in league) trailed, 41-29, with seven minutes remaining, but the Mustangs went on a 11-2 run to pull within

43-40 with 58 seconds left. While Westminster had a size advantage

over Mesa, it was 5-foot-1 Kelly Parson who got behind the defense

for an easy layup with 52 seconds left.

The Mustangs spent the rest of the time trying to find that one

big shot, as they fouled the Lions who hit four free throws down the

stretch.

“We won’t give up,” Weeks said. “I don’t care what the score is

we’re not going to give up. We proved that tonight. We played all the

way to the last second.... That’s what makes me so proud of being the

coach of this team. Hopefully somewhere down the line we’ll hit a big

shot and pull an upset. We’ll get one more shot at Westminster.

Hopefully we can get lucky.”

Weeks said his team needed an upset to help its cause to make the

playoffs for the 15th straight year. The Mustangs need four wins to

make the playoffs. Their upset almost came Thursday night.

With 6:09 left, and the Lions (7-10, 2-3) still ahead, 41-29,

Westminster Coach Dick Katz called timeout after his team committed

two straight turnovers. Just 36 seconds later the Mustangs made their

move and started their 11-2 run.

Sophomore Bethany Vergara, who scored a team-high 12 points, began the run with a 15-foot shot from the baseline. Senior Cassey Brick

followed with a mid-range, pull-up jumper with five minutes left.

Then a bit of controversy ensued.

Westminster senior Andrea Martell was charged with a technical

foul for reacting with a push after she was fouled by Mesa senior

Susy Trujillo. It was Trujillo’s fifth foul, but officials were not

made aware of that until after Trujillo knocked down the two free

throws from the technical.

Vergara later hit two free throws with 2:11 left, as Mesa trailed,

43-37. Then with 58 seconds left, Vergara connected on a

three-pointer when she took her defender off the dribble.

“I’m proud of them,” Weeks said. “We played our hearts out. We

shoot 6 for 23 in the first half (26%) and we’re only down [29-18].

They just played a great game.”

Vergara’s older sister, Brittany, contributed eight points, as did

Brick, who also had eight rebounds. Trujillo added seven points and

sophomore Judie Akansel came off the bench to score five points.

Bethany Vergara was injured three seconds into the game and went

to the bench briefly. She re-entered two minutes later and drained

two three-pointers to help give Mesa a 9-2 lead, but the Lions went

on a 22-4 run over the next seven minutes using their height

advantage as they outrebounded the Mustangs, 28-6, in the first half.

Heather Couzens, Westminster’s 5-10 sophomore, led the Lions with

19 points and 15 rebounds.

*--*

Golden West League

Westminster 49, Costa Mesa 41

Score by Quarters

Westminster 17 12 10 10 -- 49

Costa Mesa 11 7 11 12 -- 41

Westminster -- Couzens 19, Parson 13, Martell

13, Arganda 0, Eskey 0, Ropati 3, Gonzales 1.

3-pt. goals -- None. Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- Martell. Costa Mesa -- Trujillo

7, Be. Vergara 12, Brick 8, Kelly 0, Br.

Vergara 8, Akansel 5, Sanchez 1, Bjelland 0,

Cluff 0. 3-pt. goals -- Brick 2, Br. Vergara

2, Be. Vergara 2, Akansel 1, Trujillo 1.

Fouled out -- Trujillo, Be. Vergara, Sanchez.

*--*