Girls basketball: CdM in command

Barry Faulkner

Having finally won the respect they coveted all season, the Corona

del Mar High Sea Kings now find the Pacific Coast League girls basketball

championship is theirs to lose.

Coach Elbert Davis’ squad (19-4, 5-0 in league), ended an 18-game losing

streak to former Sea View rival Newport Harbor Saturday. CdM, which has

also defeated PCL and Newport-Mesa District rivals Costa Mesa and

Estancia, debuts in the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA poll this

week at No. 7.

With three league games left, including Thursday’s 7 p.m. date at

Estancia, the former Sea View cellar dwellers need to win only once to

clinch at least a share of the crown. Two wins would earn them the

outright championship.

Meanwhile, Estancia and Costa Mesa, each tied for second at 3-2 in

league, will attempt to keep things interesting.

Coach Paul Kirby’s Eagles (12-9), who ended a five-game losing streak to

their cross-town rival Thursday, have won three straight and appear to be

finding their rhythm.

Coach Jim Weeks’ Mustangs (13-9 and ranked No. 8 in CIF Division III-AA),

have lost four straight and are struggling to score points.

During the losing skein, the Mustangs are averaging 35.8 points. In a 9-1

roll before the recent skid, Mesa netted more than 54 per contest. Their

23 points in Saturday’s 45-point nonleague loss to Woodbridge were the

Mustangs’ fewest in 79 games.

Estancia opens the week tonight at winless Laguna Beach, before testing

itself against CdM.

CdM defeated Estancia, 55-32, Jan. 13. But the Eagles led at halftime,

24-20, before the Sea Kings’ full-court pressure and 24 second-half

points by junior standout Kristin McCoy established the hosts as a

serious title contender.

Kirby later said he failed to prepare his team for CdM’s relentless

defensive pressure, a tactic he hadn’t seen CdM use in prior games.

Mesa, which features three All-CIF and All-Newport-Mesa District

veterans, hosts University tonight. The Mustangs defeated the Trojans,

43-31, Jan. 11.

Seniors Jenny Earnest and Autumn Smith round out Mesa’s terrific trio.

Smith a 6-foot center who shared district player of the year laurels last

year, averages 12 points per game, but only 8.6 in league.

Earnest, averaging 11.4 points, has been the Mustangs’ leading scorer in

league (12 ppg). Hatsushi, who battled injuries throughout the first

round of league, appeared healthy in a 19-point performance against

Estancia.

Newport Harbor (4-18, 0-5), will attempt to play spoiler against Sea View

rivals Laguna Hills (tonight) and Woodbridge (Thursday).