Girls basketball: Depleted Mustangs can’t keep up with Westminster

COSTA MESA - With both starting point guard Nancy Hatsushi and

guard Jenny Earnest out with injuries, there was only so much host Costa

Mesa High’s girls basketball team expected from Saturday’s game against

Westminster, ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section Division IAA.

The result was as expected. The Lions (16-4) pounded the depleted

Mustangs (13-7), 81-45. But it was only the shell of a Costa Mesa team

that ranked No. 6 in Division IIA that Westminster defeated.

Instead, Mesa used the game to play as many players as possible in an

evaluation mode. In that sense, the game was a success for Costa Mesa

Coach Jim Weeks.

“We played a lot of players,” he said, “and they all played hard. The

girls were physical, and they did a pretty good job.”

Mesa’s Autumn Smith, it’s one star player who did play, was outstanding

with 16 points, 16 rebounds, nine blocks and six steals. Leigh Marshall,

who Weeks cited for her strong performance, Christine Caron and Maria

Lazos both scored six for the Mustangs, and Miranda Cooper had five

points.

Mesa rested Hatsushi and Earnest, both injured in the loss to Corona del

Mar, with its eyes on this week’s game against crosstown rival Estancia

in a big Pacific Coast League game.

“I hope they’re ready,” Weeks said.

Nonleague

Westminster 81, Costa Mesa 45 Score by Quarters

Westminster 20 22 19 20 - 81

Costa Mesa 15 12 7 11 - 45

Westminster - Armstrong 22, Hernandez 18, Robles 6, B. Arganda 5, Hansen

2, C. Arganda 14, Carrilo 8, Neshewct 1.

3-pt. goals - Armstrong 4, Hernandez 2, Carrillo 2, C. Arganda 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - Coach 1.

Costa Mesa - Smith 16, Marshall 6, Caron 6, Cooper 5, Trejo 3, Lazos 6,

Hitt 3, Le 0, Muniz 0.

3-pt. goals - Marshall 2, Caron 1.

Fouled out - Smith, Marshall.

Technicals - None.