Mesa cruises to third win in row

Chris Yemma

The phrase “sitting pretty” can apply to so many different things.

But for the Costa Mesa High boys basketball team, it only means one

thing right now.

In a season where the Mustangs have fielded questions about their

lack of size in the post and their ability to compete in the Golden

West League, Costa Mesa, for now, has silenced the field.

After Mesa cruised to a 59-38 plastering of visiting Saddleback

for the team’s third consecutive league win and fourth win in a row,

the Mustangs (9-7, 3-0 in league) are sitting pretty atop the league

standings.

But, perhaps, the first real test could come as early as Wednesday

night, when the Mustangs play host to Ocean View, the

seven-time-defending league champion.

Though after Estancia’s improved to 2-0 in league with a 49-42 win

over Ocean View Monday, opinions could change.

“Ocean View’s the best team in our league, probably,” Saddleback

Coach Tim Mesenhimer said. “But Estancia and Costa Mesa are both very

good. Although, Estancia has a little more height.”

The issue of height for Mesa has been countered with its outside

game. And the rebounding issue that comes along with the lack of

size, at least Monday, wasn’t a problem.

The tallest Mustang, 6-foot-3 senior Jeff Waldron, fought his way

down low for a game-high 10 rebounds, doubling Roadrunners’ leading

rebounder Jason Lamb.

Mesa outrebounded Saddleback, 30-16, which vastly contributed to a

13-3 Mustangs’ third-quarter scoring run, in a quarter where the team

posted 22 points to the Roadrunners’ six.

“I just try to get the ball whenever I can, but I don’t think I

dominate,” Waldron said. “[Rebounding] is a big part of my game.”

And the Mustangs’ perimeter game, as it has been all season, was

firing on all cylinders.

Junior guard Scott Knox drilled four three-pointers on his way to

a game-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He was 4 of 10 from beyond

the arc.

“Every game we’re trying to improve,” said Knox, who has posted

back-to-back 20-point games. “We’re focusing to go up against those

tough teams. Estancia’s going to be tough, Ocean View’s going to be

tough, of course, and we wanted to go into that game with a win.”

Four different Mustangs sank at least one three-pointer, with

junior William Lefebvre swooshing a trey at the close of the third

quarter to give Mesa a 50-24 advantage. Mesa stretched that lead to

30 in the fourth before emptying the bench.

The Mustangs’ fourth consecutive win has the team rolling. Mesa

hopes to take care of business Wednesday to set up a battle of league

unbeatens in a crosstown showdown against Estancia Jan. 21.

Mesa plays the Seahawks and Orange before traveling to Estancia,

but Orange shouldn’t pose much of a threat.

“We’ll know more about how we’re playing on Wednesday [against

Ocean View],” Costa Mesa Coach Ryan Schachter said. “That will give

us more of a true barometer to where we stand.”

A big factor in Costa Mesa’s future success will be the

performance of the big four, Schachter said. Knox, Waldron, junior

Tony Krikorian and junior Brian Molina are the main guys for the

Mustangs.

Krikorian, who was coming off a career-high 23-point performance

against Santa Ana Friday, was 2 of 5 from the field for five points.

But when one of the foursome gets shut down, the other three tend

to pick it up.

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 59, Saddleback 38

Score by Quarters

*--*

Saddleback 7 11 6 14 -- 38

Costa Mesa 15 13 22 9 -- 59

*--*

Saddleback -- Sanchez 10, Navarro 7, Alejandro 3, Lara 2, Vasquez

8, Lamb 6, Cantoran 2.

3-pt. goals -- Sanchez 2, Lamb 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Mesa -- Molina 4, Sc. Knox 20, Krikorian 5, Aleson 9, Waldron 12,

Lefebvre 2, D. Wase 3, Puente 2, Sh. Knox 0, B. Wase 0, French 2.