Mustangs’ Figuroa chosen MVP in Orange Coast

Costa Mesa High senior point guard Michelle Figueroa was named MVP of the Orange Coast League in girls’ basketball after helping the Mustangs to their second straight league crown.

Mustangs senior center Jasmine Werdel and junior guard Amy Gentling were selected to the first team, as was Estancia freshman guard Kassie Stratton.

Figueroa averaged 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game for Coach Jim Week’s squad, helping the Mustangs (19-9, 8-1 in league) advance to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs. She scored a career-high 31 in Costa Mesa’s win over Estancia on Jan. 23.

Werdel and Gentling, both second-team selections a year ago, this time earned first-team nods. Werdel averaged 11.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Gentling’s scoring average of 6.8 per game was third on the team, and she was second on the team with 30 steals. She also played shut-down defense, often guarding the opponent’s best player.

Stratton averaged a team-best 12.2 points per game for the Eagles (3-23, 0-9). She led Coach Tommy Rausch’s club in scoring in 13 of the 21 games she played.

Costa Mesa senior guard Kathy Trinh and Estancia senior guard Tiffany Monteiro were second-team honorees.

Trinh averaged 6.4 points per game for the Mustangs and also stepped up her defense during league play.

— From staff reports