Estancia’s rally falls short

Estancia girls hoop gamerEagles’ unfailing effort helps them close the gap late in Golden West League setback against Westminster Monday.WESTMINSTER -- After taking a 6-2 lead with 5:15 left in the first quarter, the Estancia High girls’ basketball team went nearly 12 1/2 minutes without a field goal.

On their way to a 45-35 Golden West League loss to Westminster Monday, the Eagles followed the aforementioned drought with stretches of 4:02 and 5:36 without making a field goal.

But at no point did the Eagles (3-10, 0-3 in league) lack effort, which allowed them to not only stay in the game, but produce induce some nervous moments for the Lions (11-6, 3-1).

Estancia trailed, 38-19, after three periods and the Lions began substituting heavily, hoping to just cruise to the victory.

But Coach Ernie Wright’s Eagles were in no mood to go quietly.

Instead, the visitors put together a 12-2 run that allowed them to pull within 40-31 with 3:52 left. A 15-footer by Estancia junior Michelle Hallock capped the run, prompting a Westminster timeout and the return of all the Lions’ starters.

Westminster managed to stave off the Eagles, but not without having had been given a strong challenge.

“Our girls have been playing that hard all season,” Wright said. “We don’t have a lot of talent, but our kids still want very badly to win.”

Be Diep, a 5-foot-1 senior point guard, personified Estancia’s will Monday. She consistently broke down taller defenders off the dribble, creating shots for her teammates and herself.

Diep finished with 14 points and four assists to pace the visitors.

“She is not afraid,” Wright said of his diminutive leader. “She does anything I ask of her.”

Diep’s willingness to take hits in the paint helped produce foul trouble for the Lions.

The foul-marred game created a procession to the free-throw line. Estancia converted 17 of 32 from the foul line while Westminster made 19 of 29.

Two free throws sparked a 9-0 Westminster run that create an 11-6 lead. After an Estancia free throw, the Lions reeled off an 11-1 spurt to assume command.

But Estancia, despite struggling to find any offensive flow, continued to play solid defense.

Estancia made just 4 of 19 field-goal attempts in the first half (21.1%). The Eagles finished a mere 20.9% from the field (9 of 43) for the game.

But Westminster converted just 12 of its 46 field-goal tries (26.1%). Further, Estancia helped force 16 Lion turnovers, two more than the Eagles’ total.

“Everyone contributes in one area or another,” said Wright, who singled out junior Emily Carr for her defensive effort against Westminster.

“I thought Emily had a great game on defense,” Wright said. “She came in and closed down the players she guarded.”

Hallock finished with 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for the Eagles, who received five rebounds from senior Marisela Sandoval, as well as four apiece from Diep and junior Yasmin Arroyo.

Carr had four points, all from the foul line, while Arroyo and sophomore Abby Koff each had two points. Arroyo and Koff were the only other Eagles, besides Hallock and Diep to record field goals for Estancia.

Westminster relied primarily on inside scoring, provided by 5-8 senior forward Erin Eskey and 6-2 sophomore center Natalie Hunt.

Eskey finished with a game-high 18 points, including seven in both the first and third quarters. She also collected nine rebounds.

Hunt produced eight rebounds and blocked two shots.

Senior guard Sara Gonzalez hit both of the Lions’ three-pointers, both before halftime, on her way to nine points.

The Lions won their fourth victory in a row and have won 6 of their last seven, including a 49-36 tournament triumph over Estancia on Dec. 29.

Wright said despite his team’s less-than-impressive record, it’s a fun squad to coach.

“It’s a very together group and the girls all really like each other,” he said.

Golden West League

Westminster 45,

Estancia 35

Score by Quarters