Mustangs fall back without key players

COSTA MESA — At the end of the bench for the Costa Mesa High girls’ basketball team was a frustrated, disappointed player leaning on crutches.

The swelling has yet to go down on Amy Gentling’s right ankle. Watching her teammates falter in a consolation game of the 26th annual Winter Classic seemed just as painful.

At times she shook her head as if to deny the Mustangs’ 71-17 loss to Valencia was actually taking place Saturday at Costa Mesa High. She didn’t like to watch. Yet after the game, she was able to smile when talking about the reasons she was at the gym and the slight hope for the future.

“I’m a captain,” said Gentling, who had a big, black boot covering her right foot. “I’ve gotta support them. They need me, so I have to be here.

“It’s hard. It’s frustrating to be on the bench. But I have to be there for my teammates.”

Gentling wasn’t the only missing for the Mustangs.

Junior Julianne Judkins has been out with a knee injury since Mesa’s first game. Sophomore Michelle Reyes was battling the flu. Senior Kim Bjelland has been playing for a month, fighting mononucleosis.

Gentling would rather be on the court, helping the Mustangs (4-7) prepare for Orange Coast League play and a chance to win their third straight league title. It makes sense that she’s the team captain. She’s Costa Mesa’s top returner.

Gentling, a first-team all-league selection and an All-Newport-Mesa honoree last year, was expecting this season to be her best yet. But Friday night, late in a 69-48 loss to San Pedro, Gentling’s ankle rolled after landing on a teammate’s foot.

“There was just a couple of minutes left in the game,” said Jay Supple, Mesa’s first-year coach. “It was a freak thing and it was very unfortunate.”

Gentling could hardly believe the injury happened. More than the shock was the fear that she would miss a long period of time. She’ll learn more after an MRI scheduled for Monday.

“This can’t be happening,” Gentling said of her words shortly after the injury. “Not to me.

“I was very upset, but everything happens for a reason.”

Gentling’s defensive presence was surely needed against Valencia. Last year, she was second on the team with 30 steals and was usually guarding the opponent’s best player.

Valencia (8-2) found most of its points in the paint, opening the game with an 11-0 lead. Costa Mesa didn’t score until 3:12 remained in the first period after senior Kelsi Bauermeister hit a 10-foot shot from the baseline. She led the Mustangs with six points.

The Vikings then opened the second period with a 12-0 run before Supple called a timeout with 4:32 left before halftime. But Valencia kept coming at Costa Mesa, which scored just two points in the quarter.

With the Mustangs trailing, 40-8, at the half, the referees were already reminding the scoreboard operator about a running clock if the Vikings were to reach a 40-point lead.

“I told them to keep their heads up,” Supple said of his postgame address to his players. “We know that we are playing short-handed. I encouraged them to keep fighting hard. Put this one behind, come out Monday and play hard.”

Costa Mesa will face Westminster in another consolation game Monday at noon. Westminster defeated Vaughn, 44-25, Saturday.

“We can’t really play our full game because so many of us are missing,” said Judkins, who won’t know when she can return until after an MRI next week. “It just affects the whole team because we can’t play. It just sucks.”

Costa Mesa Winter Classic

Consolation

Valencia 71, Costa Mesa 17

SCORE BY QUARTERS

V – Wright 18, Spargo 12, Cavanagh 10, Hill 10, Lentz 8, Hoon 5, Lanc 4, Gibson 2, Jackson 2.

3-pt. goals – None.

Fouled out – None.

CM – Bauermeister 6, Scheidt 5, Hayes 4, Gordon 2.

3-pt. goals – Scheidt 1.

Fouled out – None.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at steve.virgen@latimes.com.