Estancia faces new beginning

Chris Yemma

After a somewhat controversial close to the end the 2003-04 season,

the Estancia High girls basketball team is looking to get back on

track.

Tami Rappa, who guided the team to a Golden West League

championship in her first season, was fired in March by Estancia

Principal Tom Antal. Rappa said in March that “running up the score”

in a game against Costa Mesa was one of four reasons for her

dismissal.

The other three: “I caused too many waves and my name had become a

household name around the district and it was not a good thing,” she

said then. It was also alleged she held illegal Sunday practices.

After the termination, assistant Ernie Wright took over the

position and will be at the helm this season for whatever is to come.

But Wright said he is looking for a less-stressful atmosphere for his

team.

“Last year we had a lot of personality conflicts between the

seniors and the coach,” Wright said. “It interrupted many games --

the team went 12-0 [in league] the year before, but only went 7-5

with basically the same people.”

Wright said the numerous outside distractions and conflicts were

one of the reasons for the team’s league record. After Rappa was

fired, Wright said she asked him to go with her to JSerra High in San

Juan Capistrano.

“But I couldn’t break myself from these kids,” he said. “This

year, we have a family atmosphere and we’re trying to keep outside

disturbances to a minimum.”

The elimination of outside disturbances will be one positive for

team, but the loss of key seniors could be a negative. Nancy Castro,

the Newport-Mesa Player of the Year last season, averaged more than

19 points a game. Now, she plays at Orange Coast College.

And at 5-foot-10, she provided a post presence that complimented

Estancia’s outside shooting. This season, the team is going without a

formidable center.

“Offensively, we’re going to rely on three-point shooting mostly,”

Wright said. “Defensively, we’re not going to press much and we’ll

use our quickness.”

Michelle Hallock, a 5-11 sophomore, will be in the center

position, but Wright said it would be an exception if they were to

rely on the inside game.

Wright said it’s hard to tell how Estancia compares with other

teams in the league right now. Each team lost seniors, but, he said,

Westminster, Ocean View and Saddleback will contend for the title.

Besides senior Imelda Pena, the Eagles don’t have a high level of

skill, he said.

“I don’t have a great sense of confidence going up against some of

those league teams,” Wright said.

Pena, the team captain, is expected to step up and fill a

leadership role this season. Last year she averaged 12 points a game,

but was the fourth or fifth option. This year, she will be the No. 1

option.

“Imelda is the best player and also captain,” Wright said. “She is

a good, decent leader that will grab the kids and make them get

going.”

But Wright said he looks at this season as a rebuilding year.

“They work as hard as any team I’ve had, but that doesn’t

translate as a skill or victory,” he said.