Girls basketball: Mesa girls heavy III-AA underdog

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Costa Mesa High hosts Bishop Montgomery’s Knights of

the roundball tonight at 7:30 in the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA

girls basketball quarterfinals.

“This is a powerhouse program that is going to rule a long time,” Mesa

Coach Jim Weeks said of the No. 2-seeded Del Rey League co-champion,

which has outscored opponents an average of 71-50 en route to a 22-3

record, despite counting upon only one prominent senior.

“It’s definitely David vs. Goliath,” Weeks continued. “We’re giving up at

least two inches a position.”

Though the size discrepancy among starters is not quite that substantial,

the Mustangs (18-10) face an uphill challenge, despite playing what Weeks

considers their best basketball of the season.

“We have a chance, though not a good one,” Weeks said. “If we go out and

do everything we’re supposed to, hopefully, when the fourth quarter rolls

around, we’ll be in the game.”

The Mustangs, who have scored more than 60 points only twice, hope to use

defensive pressure and offensive patience to slow the tempo against the

Knights.

“And we have to screen out, because they get a lot of points on offensive

rebounds.”

Bishop Montgomery, which won back-to-back state championships in 1996-97,

is led by 6-foot-3 freshman Lauren Ervin, who averages 18 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Noelle Quinn, a 5-10 freshman, and Tamara Quinn, a 5-10 senior, average

12 and 10 points, respectively, while Brittney Thomas and Iris Dulay,

both 5-5 sophomores, average 10 points apiece.

The Knights, who defeated Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, 86-55, in the

second round, have won seven straight and 10 their last 11.

Mesa, which finished third in the PCL, has advanced with a 52-39

first-round win over Diamond Ranch and a 50-43 second-round victory over

Azusa.

The Mustangs are led by seniors Autumn Smith and Jenny Earnest, as well

as junior point guard Nancy Hatsushi. All three are in their third

varsity season.

Smith, a 6-0 center, is averaging 12.4 points and 10.8 rebounds. Earnest

is averaging 11.3 points, while Hatsushi is chipping in 9.7 points and

6.8 assists.

The threesome has scored more than 84% of Mesa’s playoff points. The rest

of the roster has scored a combined 16 points in two postseason games.

Tonight’s winner advances to Saturday’s semifinal, against either Corona

del Mar or Harvard-Westlake.