Girls Hoops: Mesa’s defense comes through

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Sparked by an attacking defense and sophomore Rhondi

Naff’s career-high 16 points, the Costa Mesa High girls basketball team

took out visiting Cypress, 56-45, Thursday.

Naff came off the bench and drew foul after foul as she went strong to

the basket. She made six of her eight free throws.

“That is her best game,” Mustangs coach Jim Weeks said of Naff, who

injured her right leg with 33 seconds remaining. “Last year, she had a

stress fracture in that leg. Let’s just hope it’s not anything serious.”

Mesa overcame a 26-15 deficit midway through the second quarter. The

Mustangs then outscored Cypress (1-3), 14-2, to close out the first half.

“Until we pick up our defense, it’s like we’re dead out there,” said

Nancy Hatsushi, the starting senior point guard who scored 15 points.

Weeks agreed and also said the team’s depth made the difference in the

game. Along with Naff’s aid from the bench, Miranda Cooper and Laura

Muniz helped as well.

In the fourth quarter, the Mustangs (3-3) protected their lead as

Hatsushi directed the offense with her dribbling that led to her going to

the foul line. And she was eight-for-eight from the free throw line down

the stretch.

NONLEAGUE

Costa Mesa 56, Cypress 45

Cypress 13 15 12 5 - 45

Costa Mesa 8 21 10 15 - 56

Cypress - Hitomi 10, Hayashida 7, Culley 7, Rodriguez 6, Schmitz 4,

Nitta 4, , Nishinaka 3, Maua 2, Doran 2.

3-pt. goals - Hitomi 1, Hayashida 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.

Costa Mesa - Naff 16, Hatsushi 15, Trejo 9, Marshall 6, Lazos 6,

Cooper 2, Caron 2.

3-pt. goals - Trejo 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - Lazos.