Press stuffs Costa Mesa

Steve Virgen

There were statistics that would have told the story just fine of how

the Costa Mesa High girls basketball team lost, 48-28, to Mira Costa

in pool play action of the Fountain Valley tournament Wednesday.

However, one fact remained for Costa Mesa. This was just its third

game of the season. This could be expected, considering Mesa is not

ready for the full-court press and the players are getting familiar

with one another.

“Our team is learning how to fight and learning how to work all

the time,” Costa Mesa Coach Jim Weeks said. “We have such a great

attitude. I know every game we’ll get better. And, I feel we’ll play

to our potential by the league games.”

For now, Weeks’ squad will have to roll with the punches. Costa

Mesa (1-2), the designated home team, started out OK, with a 7-3

lead, but Mira Costa, also the Mustangs, came back to tie the score

with just under a minute left in the first quarter.

Senior Suzy Trujillo connected on an outside shot that was

initially ruled a three-pointer but changed to a two, and Mesa led,

9-7, 10 seconds into the second quarter. But that’s where trouble

started for Costa Mesa. It went the next 13 minutes, 5 seconds

without a point and 14 minutes, 14 seconds without a field goal.

Meanwhile, Mira Costa (6-2) outscored Costa Mesa, 25-0, before

sophomore Bethany Vergara hit her first of two free throws to get her

squad into double digits, as Mesa trailed, 32-10.

With 1:36 left in the third quarter, Deanna Sanchez converted on a

nice dribble-drive layup, and senior Brittany Vergara scored on a

putback with 31 seconds left to give Costa Mesa hope entering the

fourth quarter. Costa Mesa opened the final quarter with a 12-2 run,

as Cassey Brick, Trujillo and Brittany Vergara each knocked down a

three-pointer.

The effort brought Mesa to within, 36-26, but Mira Costa went back

to its full-court press and got some help from Lauren McFarland, who

scored a game-high 14 points. Brick led Costa Mesa with eight points

and seven rebounds.

Mesa, which committed 24 turnovers and shot 10 of 38 from the

field, will continue pool play against Dana Hills Friday at 6 p.m.

*--*

Fountain Valley tournament Pool play

Mira Costa 48, Costa Mesa 28

Score by Quarters

Mira Costa 7 13 12 16 -- 48

Costa Mesa 7 2 5 14 -- 28

Mira Costa -- McFarland 14, Lee 5, Wilson 9,

Pegan 11, Gilroy 6, Nishikawa 2, Stubbs 1.

3-pt. goals -- Pegan 1. Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None. Costa Mesa -- Br. Vergara

6, Be. Vergara 4, Brick 8, Trujillo 5, Kelly

1, Cluff 2, Sanchez 2, Bjelland 0, Akansel 0.

3-pt. goals -- Brick 2, Trujillo 1, Br.

Vergara 1. Fouled out -- None. Technicals --

None.

*--*