CIF playoff picture will clear up this week

prep playoff pictureEstancia girls’ soccer, CdM boys’ basketball are in position to end CIF playoff droughts. The races to make the CIF Southern Section playoffs are heating up, to say the least, among Newport-Mesa high schools, which enter the last week of the regular season today.

Perhaps no team is more anxious for a shot at the postseason than the Estancia High girls’ soccer team. When former Eagles boys’ coach Steve Crenshaw took over the girls team this season, he did so with the thought of turning a fledging program around in mind.

Crenshaw said he believes the Estancia girls have not made the playoffs in 11 years. Christine Dahle, who was on the last Eagle playoff team in 1994-95 team, is an assistant coach under Crenshaw.

Together, they’ve directed Estancia to a record of 6-6-4, 4-3-3 in the Golden West League with two games remaining. A split would secure third place and a playoff spot. If the Eagles beat Saddleback on Tuesday (the teams tied 0-0 in their first meeting at Orange Coast College) and Santa Ana on Thursday (Estancia has beaten the Saints twice already), they have a shot at second place.

Costa Mesa has already clinched the league title.

“That was one of our primary goals this season, to get back on the winning track and get out of the losing mode,” Crenshaw said. “The team is used to being the doormat of the league.”

Estancia players who have experienced the losing seasons, like senior Marina Abdul, have come together with those for whom losing has not yet seeped into their psyches, like sophomore stars Stacy McDaniels and Jennifer Thomas (the team’s leading scorer) and even freshman Abby Scheafer, who has provided a big offensive boost coming off the bench.

If the Eagles finish strong and reach the playoffs, it’ll be a fine start for Crenshaw in his quest to turn the program around.

“We have good players, it’s just a matter of getting it across to them that they’re good; to get them to believe in themselves,” Crenshaw said.”

* The Corona del Mar High boys’ basketball team not only will make the playoffs after missing out last year with a sub-.500 record in the Pacific Coast League, it still has a shot at capturing a share of the league title.

Senior Ryan Lance and sophomore Stefan Kaluz have led the turnaround for the Sea Kings, who were 9-16 last season. Lance is averaging 15.7 points per game and Kaluz averages 14.4 points and 7.5 rebounds.

The duo has gotten a hand from 6-foot-6 forward Scott Slaughter (6.1 points, 5.8 rebounds per game), and a big lift from football players Shaun Mohler, Erik Rask and John Joyce, who have added stellar defense, occasional offense and a lot of toughness off the bench.

If the Sea Kings beat Laguna Beach tonight, they’ll have a shot at the title against host Northwood on Wednesday in their regular-season finale. It’s something they could have only dreamed of last year.

“What’s better than that?” Corona del Mar Coach Ryan Curry said. “That would be a great way to finish the regular season.”

* The Costa Mesa High girls’ basketball team is hungry to get back into the playoffs after missing out last season for the first time in 16 seasons.

After Friday night’s 45-44 upset of Ocean View, which was previously unbeaten in the Golden West League, the Mustangs are 6-5 and in fourth place behind Westminster (6-4), which needs to at least split its games against Ocean View and Santa Ana to secure the third-place spot.

Costa Mesa simply needs to beat Orange (4-6) on Thursday to make the playoffs as either a third- or fourth-place team. The top four teams earn guaranteed playoff berths in the seven-team Golden West League.

Half the Mustangs’ squad, including star Tracy Bjelland and key players like Bethany Vergara, Deanna Sanchez and Judie Akansel are seniors. They’d like to conclude their high school careers without the sour taste that missing the playoffs left last year.