Girls Basketball: Eagles clamp down on Saddleback

Tony Altobelli

SANTA ANA - If there were any scouts from other Golden West League

teams in the stands of Saddleback High’s girls basketball game against

Estancia on Tuesday night, one term that is now on all of their defensive

charts is “full-court press.”

Estancia used its pressure defense in the second half and completely shut

down the Roadrunners en route to a 62-53 nonleague win.

After allowing a whopping 40 points to Saddleback in the first half with

a press-less defense, the Eagles (10-9) allowed only 13 second-half

points while forcing 16 turnovers.

“I knew we had to pick it up on defense in the second half,” Coach Paul

Kirby said. “The team was very disappointed with allowing 40 first-half

points, so we came out aggressively after halftime.”

That defensive aggression led to some easy points for the Eagles,

allowing them to come back from a 14-point second-quarter deficit to pull

out the win.

Lauren Cassity led the Eagles with 17 points, including 8 for 8 from the

free-throw line in the second half.

Erika Avalos and Xochitl Byfield each chipped in with 14 points.

After falling behind, 40-28, after the first half due to poor transition

defense, Kirby’s crew outscored the Roadrunners, 20-8, in the third

quarter to tie the game.

“We did a poor job getting back on defense and it cost us early,” Kirby

said. “We just had to pick it up a notch. We did a great job of mixing up

our zone and man-to-man presses.”

Saddleback (11-8) regained the lead midway through the fourth quarter,

53-52, before the Eagles ripped off the final 10 points of the game,

while blanking Saddleback for the final five minutes of the game.

“This is how we need to play when league resumes,” Kirby said. “We need

to turn it around in the second half of league play.”

Denise De La Rosa led the Roadrunners with 13 points.

The Eagles will resume Pacific Coast League play when they travel to

University High to take on the Trojans Thursday at 7 p.m.

NONLEAGUE

Estancia 62, Saddleback 53

Estancia 16 12 20 14 - 62

Saddleback 25 15 8 5 - 53

Estancia - Cassity 17, Byfield 14, Avalos 14, Barrera 9, Hirata 5,

Lenhart 3, Rodriguez 0, Matsufuji 0, Ollila 0.

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

Fouled out - None.

Saddleback - Chavez 13, Adame 12, De La Rosa 11, Corrillo 10, Bizavo 4,

Moreno 2, Segoviano 1.

3 pt. goals - Chavez 2.

Fouled out - none.