Today marks new start for Estancia, Costa Mesa

Eagles and Mustangs try to put subpar nonleague season behind them when they open Golden West League action today.When the nonleague portion of the schedule ends and league play is about to begin, each team gets to start anew.

This couldn’t be better news for the Costa Mesa and Estancia girls’ varsity basketball teams, which have struggled in nonleague action this season.

The teams concluded their nonleague schedule by playing each other in the 15th-place game of the Costa Mesa Winter Classic Dec. 30. Costa Mesa (5-8) ended its four-game slide with a 43-35 victory in the contest. Tracy Bjelland led the Mustangs with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Be Diep paced the Eagles (3-8) with 18 points.

Both teams will try to rebound when they open Golden West League action today. Estancia plays at Orange at 7 p.m. and Costa Mesa hosts Westminster at 7 p.m.

Costa Mesa is seeking more help for Bjelland, who leads the team in scoring. Seniors Bethany Vegara, Judie Akansel, Deanna Sanchez and Bjelland are playing together for the fourth season, so there should be a certain amount of cohesion on the court for the Mustangs, especially in pressure-packed league games.

Newcomers like Nikki Brannon and Jasmine Werdel have shown signs of brilliance, but Coach Jim Weeks could use a little more consistency out of the first-year varsity players.

Werdel had her best game of the season when she scored a career-high 18 points and added eight rebounds in Costa Mesa’s 52-37 victory over Schurr in the Fountain Valley Tournament, but was held scoreless in a game the following week.

The Mustangs will look to improve on last year’s 5-7 finish in the Golden West League and make a return to the CIF Southern Section playoffs, but it won’t be easy.

Ocean View is 7-3 and already has posted a Golden West League victory. Saddleback is 9-5 and looks poised to make a league title run.

Estancia is getting consistent production from senior guard Be Diep, but could use a little more offensive help from her supporting cast. Returning starters Michelle Hallock and Yasmin Arroyo should be able to give the Eagles a boost in Golden West League play as they attempt to improve on last year’s 3-9 finish in league.

Diep is third in assists in the Golden West League with 32.

Saddleback’s Cynthia Lete could be the league’s standout player. Lete has tallied 207 points, 81 assists and 47 steals for Saddleback, which is one of the front-runners in the race for the Golden West League crown.

Saddleback is also deadly from three-point land. Jessica Valencia and Mariella McElroy have combined for 42 three-pointers for the Roadrunners.

Orange’s Jessica Galvez is dominant inside, leading the league in rebounds with 78 and blocks with 17. Galvez’s teammate, guard Melissa Mehi, leads the league in steals with 49.

Estancia and Costa Mesa will play each other when it counts twice in the same week. Estancia plays at Costa Mesa on Jan. 24, then the teams meet at Estancia on Jan. 28.

A sweep by either team could put them in contention for a playoff spot.