Big game sign of things to come?

As first-year varsity player gets comfortable in the post, the Mustangs could see their win total start to skyrocket this season.Jasmine Werdel has not been playing basketball for very long.

The sophomore took up the sport three years ago, following in the footsteps of two cousins, who played in high school and college. Last year as a freshman at Costa Mesa High, Werdel made the school’s junior varsity girls’ basketball team and immediately made an impact as a post player.

The 6-foot Werdel, a quiet, unassuming sophomore, is still learning the game -- this year on the varsity level. Werdel had her best game of the season on Saturday, scoring a career-high 18 points and adding eight rebounds in Costa Mesa’s 52-37 victory over Schurr in the Fountain Valley Tournament.

“I got good passes from my teammates,” Werdel said.

Werdel gives Costa Mesa the kind of size in the post it is unaccustomed to.

“She’s one of the tallest players we’ve had in a long time,” Costa Mesa Coach Jim Weeks said. “She’s a good scorer, a good rebounder and does a good job defensively.”

Post players Werdel and 5-foot-8 junior Nikki Brannon are key additions to a Mustangs squad with four seniors -- Tracy Bjelland, Bethany Vegara, Judie Akansel and Deanna Sanchez -- who are teammates for the fourth straight year. The foursome gives the Mustangs experience and scoring punch -- especially from the outside.

Werdel is working on becoming the consistent force Costa Mesa needs on the inside.

“My strength is I’m tall,” she said. “But I’m not a great ball handler yet.”

While ball handling and footwork are things Werdel needs to work on, she has one thing going for her -- she’s a willing student of the game.

“She’s quiet, but she’s very motivated,” Weeks said. “She wants to learn.”

The best part for Weeks, in his eighth season coaching the Mustangs, is that Werdel is only a sophomore with a lot of upside.

“She’ll be a strong inside presence for the next few years,” he said.

Werdel said the jump from JV to varsity was relatively smooth, with a few differences.

“There are more taller girls on the varsity level,” she said. “And a lot more people on varsity want it than on JV.”

Count Werdel as one of the players who want to be the best they can be.

“I try my hardest and tell myself I can play at a high level,” she said.

With the experience and senior leadership on Costa Mesa’s roster, Werdel doesn’t have to be the star every night.

“We have seven good players that are doing the job,” Weeks said.

Werdel has time to develop. Still, having an occasional 18-point, eight-rebound night should go a long way toward helping Costa Mesa improve on its 9-17 finish a year ago.

“We have a lot of seniors and some good post players,” Werdel said. “We should be good.”

Jasmine Werdel

Hometown: Seattle, Wash.

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 185 pounds

Sport: Basketball

Position: Center

Coach: Jim Weeks

Favorite food: Cocoa Puffs

Favorite movie: “Stand By Me”

Favorite athletic moment: “Hitting a home run last year for Costa Mesa’s junior varsity softball team.”

Week in review: Werdel, just a sophomore still learning the game, scored a career-high 18 points and added eight rebounds in Costa Mesa’s 52-37 victory over Schurr on Saturday in the Fountain Valley Tournament.200512163V1M2CHFNo Caption20051216irkk1tncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Jasmine Werdel, a 6-foot sophomore, has been a solid post presence for the Mustangs this year -- something the team hasn’t had in years past.