HIGH SCHOOLS:

Costa Mesa High senior point guard Michelle Figueroa certainly has a flair for the dramatic.

In the Mustangs’ game at cross-town rival Estancia on Wednesday, the Eagles hung tough, trailing by a single point early in the third quarter.

But Figueroa kept providing answers, dropping in a career-high 31 points while adding 14 rebounds and three assists in the 55-41 Mesa win. Figueroa shot 10 of 21 from the field and nine of 10 from the free-throw line.

The 31 points is a Newport-Mesa area best for girls’ basketball this season. Figueroa has also scored 27 in two different games this season for the Mustangs (14-8).

Last year’s Daily Pilot Dream Team Co-Player of the Year is averaging an even 19 points per game, nearly double her 9.8 average of a season ago.

“She’s stepped it up a lot,” said Figueroa’s backcourt mate, senior guard Kathy Trinh. “It’s amazing how she plays, because even though people will double-team her or triple-team her, she can manage to get through. She has the heart to play, too. She loves to win and she never gives up.”

Costa Mesa, however, has learned that it can’t take Orange Coast League play for granted after losing at home to Laguna Beach, 59-58, on Friday night. The Mustangs and Breakers are now tied for first place in league.

“I don’t know how they’ll respond,” Coach Jim Weeks said. “It’s hard to read this team. Hopefully we come back hard Wednesday against Calvary Chapel and decide to step it up.”

 Wednesday’s Orange Coast League girls’ water polo game between Estancia High and Sage Hill School is a must-win for both schools, as they aim to make the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.

The loser of the game, scheduled for 3:15 p.m. at Estancia, would be 0-2 in league with just one league game remaining. Only two teams in league are guaranteed playoff spots.

The Eagles (10-5, 0-1 in league) are led in scoring by freshman phenom Haley Kunert and her 65 goals. Junior Cameron Cline leads Sage Hill (7-4, 0-1) with 33 goals.

Estancia senior Meagan Kunert, the Eagles’ primary set guard who injured her right knee in workouts a couple of weeks ago, said it is back close to full strength.

“It’ll be better [by Wednesday’s game],” Kunert said with a smile. “Mesa doesn’t have to worry, and neither does Sage.”

Estancia is at cross-town rival Costa Mesa on Feb. 6 in both teams’ Orange Coast League finale.

 The Corona del Mar High girls’ water polo team has always stood out. But, when the Sea Kings were ranked No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll released Jan. 22, it was the first time that had occurred in the program’s history.

CdM won five straight CIF titles — one in Division IV and four in Division II — before moving to Division I last year. But the Sea Kings were never ranked No. 1 in 2006-07.

CdM was ranked No. 5 in this year’s preseason poll but is the hottest team in the division with its 10-game winning streak.

 Coming off the bench, Sage Hill School sophomore Hannah Jeffrey has consistently been a force in the middle for the Lightning girls’ basketball team.

The 5-foot-11 forward is averaging 7.7 rebounds per game for the Lightning (13-7, 5-2 in league) heading into tonight’s game against Beckman. Her 54 offensive rebounds lead the team.

Jeffrey has five double-digit rebounding games this season, including a career-high 19 boards against Fairmont Prep on Jan. 2.

“She’s clearly been our most improved player,” Coach Lou Silverman said. She’s done a great job of playing within her game. She’s doing a lot but not trying to do too much, and that’s a real art to be able to do that.”

MATT SZABO is a staff writer. He can be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.