Bell returns to Mustangs

Chris Yemma

At this point in the Costa Mesa High girls basketball team’s season,

pretty much every game is a must win.

The Mustangs are fighting for the fourth spot in the Golden West

League and a chance to continue into the postseason.

But against visiting Estancia Monday, it was even more than a must

win. It was a chance for Mesa to snap a seven-game losing streak

against its crosstown rival and claim back the prized Lady Bell

trophy, something the Eagles have possessed for quite some time.

It all played out perfectly for the Mustangs, as they went inside,

shot outside, and controlled the boards in a 50-32 league triumph for

a second consecutive victory.

Costa Mesa Coach Jim Weeks was optimistic about whether or not

Monday’s win would provide the momentum his team would need to keep

the young streak alive.

“We hope so,” he said. “We’re starting to do some things really

well. We’re playing lots of minutes where we’re doing a really good

job and if we can keep that consistency up, we’ll be looking good.”

There were times of consistency for the Mustangs (7-13, 3-3 in

league) where they looked unstoppable Monday night, going on streaks

in the second and fourth quarters to build upon their lead

considerably, but there was also a five-point third quarter. But

Costa Mesa outplayed its biggest rival and snatched another must-win

game.

“Every game we play right now is a must-win game,” Weeks said

before the game. “This one just holds more personal.”

If it was a personal game for both teams, Estancia’s personality

was a bit shy.

The Eagles (4-15, 1-5) shot 28.5% from the field and were

outrebounded, 35-25. Estancia’s smallest player, 5-foot-1 junior Be

Diep, had the team’s highest rebound total with seven. Only Mesa’s

Jennifer Courtney topped that with eight.

But it was the consistency senior Bethany Vergara provided for

Mesa that proved to be a key element in the Mustangs’ victory.

“Bethany’s phenomenal,” said Weeks about the 5-foot-6 guard who

put up a game-high 15 points Monday, including two pivotal

three-pointers. “She’s out there every second. It’s unbelievable how

she plays.”

Vergara finished shooting 4 of 14 while grabbing six rebounds in a

game that had huge significance for the seniors.

Diep had a team-high 12 points along with her team-high in

rebounds, but the Eagles got a quick scare when she went down holding

her ankle with 4:55 remaining in the third. She returned a few

minutes later, though, and drilled a jump shot at the third-quarter

buzzer.

“She’s got good instincts and she knows where to go,” Estancia

Coach Ernie Wright said. “She’s all over the place -- she’s

impossible to defend and we’re lucky to have her.”

Estancia lost its fifth straight game and remained in the sixth

spot out of seven teams in the league standings.

Costa Mesa will be vying for the fourth and final CIF Southern

Section Division III-A playoff spot. “It’s always been our No. 1 goal

to make the [CIF] playoffs,” Weeks said.

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 50,

Estancia 32

Score by Quarters

*--*

Estancia 9 11 6 6 -- 32 Costa Mesa 12 16 5 17 -- 50

*--*

Estancia -- Sandoval 0, Diep 12, Arroyo 8, Barrera 3, Martinez 0,

Williams 0, Neal 2, Hallock 4, Wilson 3, Slattery 0, Flores 0.

3-pt. goals -- Diep 1, Barrera 1.

Fouled out -- Wilson.

Technicals -- None.

Costa Mesa -- Bjelland 8, Cluff 0, Enesi 1, Sanchez 8, Vergara 15,

Akansel 9, Courtney 6, Evans 1, Craven 2, Mino 0.

3-pt. goals -- Vergara 2, Akansel 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- Sanchez.