DAILY PILOT GIRLS’ BASKETBALL DREAM TEAM:Mesa duo gained despite pain

The force inside and the distributor fought through knee problems.

How Costa Mesa High’s Jennifer Courtney and Michelle Figueroa saw it, they had to have a high threshold for pain.

They said the constant jumping, bending over and moving laterally on the court proved strenuous. Sometimes after games they said they couldn’t raise their knees.

But the duo managed to lift the girls’ basketball team to a memorable season, making the pain worth it.

For their fortitude and ability, Courtney and Figueroa are the Daily Pilot Dream Team Co-Players of the Year.

Seeing his forward and point guard receive the Newport-Mesa area honor made sense to Coach Jim Weeks.

“I couldn’t pick one Player of the Year,” he said. “Are you kidding me?”

It’s like choosing whose knee hurt more during the Mustangs’ ride.

Both Courtney and Figueroa were instrumental in the Mustangs winning the Orange Coast League championship and making appearances in the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA championship and the opening round of the CIF State Southern California Regional Division III tournament. They helped Costa Mesa to a 20-12 overall record and 8-1 in league.

Courtney said both of her knees hurt during her senior year because she developed iliotibial band syndrome.

Despite having two knees that could give out at any moment, Courtney battled through that and her height disadvantage in the post. At 5-foot-6, she earned the Orange Coast League Player of the Year award.

How did she pull it off and average nine points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game? There’s a reason why Weeks calls Courtney the most tenacious player he’s coached during his 15 years at Costa Mesa.

“At some points I wouldn’t be able to walk,” said Courtney, who made second-team All-CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA. “One knee started hurting in the beginning, and because of our long season, the other started bothering me.

“But I wouldn’t let my knees get me down. I was determined to keep playing.”

Figueroa followed suit.

After missing her sophomore year after a meniscus tear in her left knee, Figueroa worked her way back. She said the injury hampered her as a junior, but it couldn’t prevent her from leading the team.

Figueroa averaged a team-best 9.8 points and 4.2 assists per game, and received first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA and all-league honors.

Weeks said Figueroa was fearless when it came to taking the big shot. She hit many down the stretch to allow the Mustangs to play in their fourth section championship game in school history.

Weeks might lose Figueroa next year. Figueroa said she might move to Colombia, where her mother Gloria Giraldo lives, or possibly move in with her brother, John Restrepo, who lives in Orange County, but not in Costa Mesa.

“I want to stay and continue to play for Costa Mesa,” said Figueroa, who would be one of eight returning Mustangs next year. “The program pushed me, and even though I was hurt, I was motivated to play through the pain. I didn’t want to stop playing.

“I just had to suck it up because we had 10 good players and I didn’t want to come out.”

Weeks said Figueroa and Courtney rarely complained about the pain.

On a deep team, which frequently shuffled players in and out, Courtney and Figueroa were constant floor leaders.

“They never wanted to come out, and I knew why,” Weeks said. “They were players I could count on.”

Here’s a look at the rest of the honorees:

KAITLIN TYRE

SAGE HILL, SENIOR

Provided senior leadership on a young Lightning team under the new direction of first-year coach Lou Silverman. She elevated her game during Academy League play and the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs. The first-team all-league player led the team with 8.6 rebounds and two steals per game, and ranked second in scoring (9.7) and assists (2.9). Sage Hill (13-13, 7-3 in league) for the third straight year won or shared the league’s top spot and this year advanced to the second round of the playoffs, where it lost a close one to Calvary Chapel, 43-37.

YASMIN ARROYO

ESTANCIA, SENIOR

One of smallest players in the Newport-Mesa area is also one of the grittiest. The 5-foot-3 guard turned around the Eagles from a 3-20 team the previous season to an 8-13 one this season. The first-team All-Orange Coast League player led the team with 9.7 points per game and in assists, making Estancia a tough opponent. After not winning a Golden West League game in the 2005-06 season, the Eagles won three in their new league to finish 3-6. Coach Tommy Rausch credits his point guard for leading the team to a third-place finish in league.

ASHLEY KIRBY

CORONA DEL MAR, JUNIOR

Developing into a scoring force for the Sea Kings. Only one of a few players in Southern California to score 34 points in a game. Accomplished the feat against Torrance on Dec. 14. The 5-foot-10 player led the team with 13.5 points per game to go with 4.7 rebounds and one steal per game. She received second-team All-Pacific Coast League honors. CdM started out 4-2, but couldn’t maintain its play under new coach Mark Decker.

CdM finished 9-17 overall and 2-6 in league. Look for her to lead CdM to a stronger finish as a senior.

TIERNEY DANNER

SAGE HILL, SOPHOMORE

Stepped in and filled in quite admirably in the paint for Haywood Wright, who was the Newport-Mesa Player of the Year for two years before graduating in 2006. First-year coach Lou Silverman expected big things out of his 5-foot-11 center and she delivered. The first-team All-Academy League player led the team with 13.8 points and 1.2 blocks per game, and her 7.2 rebounds ranked second. The Lightning missed reaching the semifinals like they had in 2005-06, with only getting to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs, but next year could be different.