Nancy Castro

Steve Virgen

Nancy Castro found much more than her game on the basketball courts

at Smallwood Park during the off-season. The Estancia High senior

also discovered herself.

Last year, Castro was timid and hesitant to shoot, as Tisha Gray

occupied the offense in the paint, and Xochitl Byfield also took

several shots for the Eagles. Gray and Byfield graduated last spring.

But Castro, the starting center, has stepped up this season. She has

become the leading scorer for Estancia’s girls basketball team.

“She knew that with Tisha gone she had to step up and fill her

shoes, and she’s actually making new ones,” Estancia Coach Tamette

Rappa said. “Last year, I don’t think she had the opportunity. The

ball went to Tisha, because she was going to score. Now it’s, ‘Give

it to Nancy.’ The girls know Nancy. Now, she’s the go-to person. Now

she’s the one the girls rely on.”

Castro’s 19.8 points per game average in Golden West League action

has given the Eagles a boost and the production has also surprised

Castro.

“I played scared all the time [last year],” Castro said. “But

since [Gray and Byfield] are gone, they have told me to step it up

and I have. I didn’t think I would score this much. But I’ve been

practicing harder and working harder and I guess that has helped.”

Castro toiled and put in the effort with the hopes of taking her

game to the next level when she practiced by herself at Smallwood

Park in Costa Mesa during the off-season. On the court she worked on

the technical aspects of her post game and also outside shooting, all

the while strengthening her mind and attaining confidence.

“I played basketball almost every day,” Castro said. “I went to

the park and practiced shooting for at least two hours every day.

Before I couldn’t shoot from the outside at all, but now I can shoot

from the top of the key or the free-throw line.”

The results have been showing for Castro this season, especially

in league action. She has averaged 22.8 points per game the past five

contests (entering Friday’s action), as the Eagles appear headed for

the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Castro also came up big in two victories last week. She scored a

game-high 25 points and grabbed four rebounds to lead the Eagles to a

53-33 win over crosstown rival Costa Mesa Jan. 20. She nailed 11 of

her 14 shots from the field (78.5%).

Two days later, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week scored a

game-high 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two shots,

guiding Estancia to a 69-36 victory over Orange.

“She has definitely stepped up her play,” Rappa said. “She’s not a

quitter. She’s a player on the team with the best work ethic. You can

always find her working on her game. You could tell she loves the

sport, and that’s what everyone has seen and that’s why she’s getting

those numbers. She’s also a captain this year which has caused her to

step up in a leadership role.”

Castro said she felt that she came out of her shell during the

University tournament in mid-December. She said point guard Trisha

Wase started to notice her more and Castro began to believe in

herself.

“I’m a little more confident when I play now,” Castro said. “I

just always know I have to go out there and play hard.”