Girls basketball: CdM’s McCoy tops 10 locals named All-PCL

Barry Faulkner

Corona del Mar High junior Kristin McCoy, who led her girls

basketball team from the Sea View League cellar to the Pacific Coast

League penthouse, is the Daily Pilot Pacific Coast League Player of the

Year.

McCoy, a 5-foot-7 forward, averaged 13.6 points in eight league games,

leading CdM to a 7-1 record and its first league championship in recent

memory.

Repeat selections on the first team are Costa Mesa seniors Autumn Smith

and Jenny Earnest.

Additional first-team honorees Lauren Cassity of Estancia and Nancy

Hatsushi of Costa Mesa, were second-team picks a year ago.

CdM senior Charlene Quon, as well as University High senior Reagan

Anders, round out the first team.

Elbert Davis, whose patient leadership has fostered CdM’s transformation

from also-ran to champion, is Coach of the Year.

McCoy, who also led CdM in rebounding, scored inside and outside. She

stepped up when her teammates needed her, but also displayed admirable

unselfishness.

Cassity, tireless and tenacious, got the most out of her ability to help

lead the Eagles to a second-place finish. The 5-8 senior averaged 13.6

points, but her leadership by example included diving for loose balls,

wrestling with taller opponents inside for rebounds and defending with

rare passion.

Earnest, a 5-8 wing, was the Mustangs’ most consistent offensive weapon

against PCL foes. Her contribution, however, was not limited to scoring.

She was a solid defender and an effective rebounder for the league’s

third-place team.

Smith, a 6-0 center, averaged 10.9 points and was an intimidating

defensive presence in the lane.

Hatsushi, a junior point guard, ran the show for the Mustangs, though her

third PCL campaign was hampered by injuries.

Quon averaged 9.6 points against PCL competition and her three-pointer in

the closing seconds of the regular-season finale, clinched a victory over

Costa Mesa and sole possession of the league crown.

CdM and Estancia placed two players on the second team.

Freshman Jackie McCoy and sophomore Andrea Gruber stood out in Davis’

constantly rotating lineup. Both figure to keep CdM in contention, if not

at the top, for years to come.

Junior Zuyin Barrera and sophomore Erika Avalos could do the same for the

Eagles. Barrera, one of the league’s most talented offensive players, had

her best games (23 and 24 points, respectively) against CdM and Costa

Mesa in the second round of league play.

Avalos, a 5-10 center, emerged as a relentless rebounder and showed signs

of offensive development as well.

Daily Pilot All-Pacific Coast League girls basketball

Player of the Year

Kristin McCoy, Corona del Mar Jr. 13.6

First team

Lauren Cassity, Estancia Sr. 13.6

Jenny Earnest, Costa Mesa Sr. 11.5

Autumn Smith, Costa Mesa Sr. 10.9

Nancy Hatsushi, Costa Mesa Jr. 8.6

Charlene Quon, Corona del Mar Sr. 9.6

Reagan Anders, University Sr. 15.4

Second team

Jackie McCoy, Corona del Mar Fr. 9.4

Zuyin Barrera, Estancia Jr. 11.1

Peggie Wu, University Sr. 5.5

Andrea Gruber, Corona del Mar So. 5.6

Erika Avalos, Estancia So. 4.4

Kirsten von Tungeln, University Jr. 5.6

Coach of the Year: Elbert Davis, Corona del Mar