Figueroa answers call

COSTA MESA — Sitting on the bench, Michelle Figueroa watched her Costa Mesa High girls’ basketball team fall into a 13-point halftime deficit.

Then the Costa Mesa High senior guard did something about it. Big time.

Figueroa tied a career high with 27 points — all after the intermission — as the Mustangs stormed back for a 66-60 overtime win over Merced on Thursday at the 25th annual Costa Mesa Winter Classic.

The game was just a minute old when Figueroa, who has been feeling sick for nearly a week, was subbed out by Costa Mesa Coach Jim Weeks.

“She was fighting a cold and we’re trying to get her a little more positive,” Weeks said.

Figueroa, last year’s Newport-Mesa Dream Team Co-MVP, said the substitution was more mental than anything.

“My girl [on defense] was running down the court and I was just walking, not running,” she said. “Coach asked me if I wanted to play and I was kind of [ticked] off that the girl had beaten me so I didn’t answer him. He sat me out the whole first half, then I told him I was ready to play during halftime.”

The Mustangs, who play Newport Harbor today at noon in a consolation semifinal, did the best they could with Figueroa on the bench in the first half. Junior Amy Gentling (12 points) filled in at point guard.

But in the second half, Figueroa came back to lead the charge for Costa Mesa (7-6).

“Me sitting out the first half, I don’t want to sound cocky or anything, but it did affect the team,” she said. “I do know that without me it would be tough to get wins. I just have to keep a good attitude and play hard the whole time.”

With Merced up, 50-49, with 3:45 left in the fourth quarter, Figueroa’s driving layup gave the Mustangs the lead.

Merced (7-6) was back up with less than two minutes left, and the Bears had the ball before Figueroa again made her presence felt. She wrestled the ball away from a Merced post player on a rebound, and Gentling grabbed it and was fouled. Gentling made one free throw to make it 54-54.

“When [Figueroa] wants to play, she’s just a warrior and can do so much,” Weeks said. “The team really responds to her positive energy. She just never wants to lose, and it’s a great attribute to have.”

Senior center Jasmine Werdel scored with 45 seconds left to put Mesa up by two, but Merced’s Karine Meyer scored on a put-back with one second to go to send the game into overtime.

Figueroa, who also scored 27 points earlier this year against Los Alamitos, said she wasn’t too worried about the extra period.

“We all wanted the game and we just went out there and played hard,” Figueroa said. “I don’t know where we got the energy from because I was exhausted. I don’t know, the energy just came and I was able to finish the game. We were all able to finish the game.”

It was Figueroa’s three-pointer that opened the overtime scoring. After a steal by Mesa senior Tatiana Caicedo, Werdel’s back-to-back layups gave Mesa a 63-57 lead with 1:20 left.

Werdel finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds. More importantly, Weeks said, the center’s defense helped slow Merced post players Dalemesha Hill and Meyer. They combined for 19 points, but just seven of those came after halftime.

“The key for Jasmine is to be the middle person on defense,” Weeks said. “She’s really a force for us, even if she’s not always getting the points we’re looking for. She’s a force defensively.”

Weeks also added that he was impressed with the shutdown defense from Gentling and senior Kathy Trinh.

The Mustangs look forward to playing Newport Harbor again today. The Sailors won, 50-33, in a nonleague game Dec. 15.

“They’re well-coached and it’s a good game for us,” Weeks said. “You always like a second chance at a team that beat you.”

Costa Mesa Winter Classic

Consolation quarterfinal

Costa Mesa 66, Merced 60 (OT)

SCORE BY PERIODS

Mer – Wright 17, Blackwell 15, Hill 10, Meyer 9, Turner 5, Barron 4.

3-pt. goals – Wright 2, Blackwell 1.

Fouled out – None.

CM – Figueroa 27, Werdel 20, Gentling 12, Scheidt 3, Trinh 2, Caicedo 2.

3-pt. goals – Figueroa 1.

Fouled out – Trinh.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.