Stretch drive begins

Barry Faulkner

While the Estancia High girls basketball team cruises along atop

the Golden West League standings, Costa Mesa and Corona del Mar are

hoping they can find another gear as the races for CIF playoff spots

charge toward the finish line.

Meanwhile, Newport Harbor, coming off a 45-32 upset of Sea View

League-leading Aliso Niguel Friday, the program’s most impressive

league win since it beat Woodbridge to close out the 1999 regular

season, hopes to continue to build its case for an at-large berth

with three league games left.

The Sailors (12-11, 2-5 in league) can also clinch at least a .500

regular-season record, their first since the aforementioned 1999

campaign, with a victory Tuesday over visiting Irvine (0-7 in

league).

Coach Jen Thompson’s Tars trail league tri-leaders Woodbridge,

Aliso and Laguna Hills by three games and are two games behind

fourth-place Foothill, which swept Newport this season.

But, after consecutive seasons of 4-23, 2-22 and 4-20, the Sailors

just may be headed for a return to the postseason.

Estancia (13-8, 8-0), all but clinched its second straight league

crown, its first outright title since 1991, when it put away

defending league champion Westminster, 58-55, Wednesday.

Coach Tami Rappa’s Eagles can wrap up at least a share of the

league crown with two wins in three league games this week, including

the second half of their series with crosstown rival Costa Mesa

Wednesday at Estancia.

The Eagles, who open the week tonight by hosting Santa Ana (2-5 in

league) have won 14 straight league games, dating back to last year’s

run to the Pacific Coast League co-title.

Costa Mesa (12-9, 4-3) holds a half-game lead over Ocean View for

third place in the Golden West League and needs only to wind up in

the top four to gain a guaranteed CIF berth, extending the program’s

streak to 14 straight postseason appearances.

The Mustangs host last-place Orange tonight, before hoping to

avenge a 56-34 first-round loss to Estancia. Coach Jim Weeks’ squad

gets the league bye Friday.

CdM (9-11, 4-2 in league), is tied for second with Northwood, one

game behind Calvary Chapel in the PCL. Coach James Barkalow’s Sea

Kings visit last-place Tesoro Tuesday, before a crucial clash with

visiting University Thursday.

A pair of CdM wins this week would clinch a playoff spot, while

also creating a chance to vie for a league crown with remaining dates

against Calvary Chapel (Feb. 11) and Northwood (Feb. 13).

CdM needed three overtimes to hold off Uni, 51-48, in their

first-round meeting.