Girls basketball: CdM is the ‘Real McCoy’

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - With no field goals, only five shots from the field

and a mere three points, Thursday’s first half was atypical for Corona

del Mar High’s girls basketball star.

But, after intermission, Pacific Coast League visitor Estancia got a

healthy dose of the real Kristin McCoy.

The 5-foot-8 junior erupted for 24 second-half points, including every

one of her team’s tallies during a 17-4 CdM run, to help the hosts turn a

24-20 halftime deficit into a 55-32 victory.

The win helped CdM (14-4, 2-0 in the PCL and loser of its final 33 Sea

View League games through last season) join Costa Mesa atop the PCL

standings.

“We want to make ourselves known,” said McCoy, who chipped in 13

rebounds, five steals, three assists and one blocked shot to her

career-high-equaling scoring effort. “And we want to get our respect by

earning it. We know teams aren’t going to give it to us.”

The Sea Kings earned the Eagles’ respect with relentless full-court

pressure, which helped produce 31 turnovers. CdM’s defense also held

Estancia (9-9, 1-2) to 21% shooting from the field (9 of 43).

“Actually, we just sustained our intensity into the second half,” CdM

Coach Elbert Davis said. “We knew if we kept playing the way we were,

(the Eagles) would eventually break down. We didn’t let them get into

their offense the second half.”

Davis also acknowledged McCoy’s increased offensive presence as a key to

the turnaround.

“She wasn’t getting her shots in the first half,” Davis said. “The way I

coach, I let girls take the open shot when they have it. But, sooner or

later, you have to get the ball to your go-to player.”

The hosts connected on just 5 of 32 field-goal attempts in the first two

periods (15.6%), as the Eagles, led by Zuyin Barrera’s 11-point

first-quarter explosion, led throughout the first 16 minutes.

A Lisa Hirata three-pointer pushed the Estancia advantage to 27-22 just

46 seconds into the third quarter. But the Eagles managed only one more

field goal and surrendered the lead for good when McCoy broke a 27-27 tie

with two foul shots with 2:53 left in the third.

McCoy, driving for layups, spinning around defenders for one-hand runners

-- with both hands -- drawing fouls, and even swishing from 18 feet, then

scored her team’s next 15 points. When a Charlene Quon steal and layin

finally interrupted McCoy’s 4:34 span of pure domination, CdM had an

insurmountable 46-31 cushion.

“I wasn’t getting the ball in the first half,” McCoy said. “So, when I

started to get it in the second half, I wanted to make it count.”

The Sea Kings have done just that with their first two PCL games and hope

to continue the trend next week against University (Tuesday) and Costa

Mesa (Thursday).

“Next week is a big week for us,” Davis said.

Sophomore Andrea Gruber and freshman Jackie McCoy came off the bench to

spark the winners Thursday, while senior point guard Charlene Quon was

also key.

Jackie McCoy, Kristin’s sister, had 11 points and seven rebounds, while

Gruber collected eight points and five steals.

Quon added seven points and was a constant defensive disruption.

“The reason I’ve hesitated to start Gruber, is because she really lights

it up off the bench,” Davis said.

Barrera had nine points in the first 2:05, en route to a team-high 12,

but the Eagles’ other four starters combined for just 10.

Lauren Cassity had 12 rebounds and Erika Avalos added 10 for Estancia, which gets a chance to brush up against El Modena (Saturday) and

Saddleback (Tuesday), before returning to PCL action against University

Thursday.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 55, Estancia 32

Score by Quarters

Estancia 15 9 4 4 - 32

Corona del Mar 12 8 18 17 - 55

Estancia - Barrera 12, Lenhart 7, Hirata 5, Byfield 3, Orellana 3,

Cassity 2, Avalos 0, Matsufuji 0, Ollila 0, Villa 0.

3-pt. goals - Barrera 2, Lenhart 1, Hirata 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.

Corona del Mar - K. McCoy 27, J. McCoy 11, Gruber 8, Quon 7, Eyre 2,

Meservey 0, Pham 0, Hawkins 0, Kawata 0.

3-pt. goals - Gruber 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.