Mustangs claim Lady Bell trophy over Eagles

Natalie Venegas

The importance of the Estancia High girls basketball game against

crosstown rival Costa Mesa was apparent on Thursday night when two

police officers could be seen guarding the desired Lady Bell trophy

in the corner of the gym throughout the game.

In the end, it was visiting Costa Mesa coming out on top, 41-28,

in a Golden West League game to claim the spoils and sweep. The

Mustangs defeated Estancia in the first round, 50-32.

Both teams began sluggishly with Costa Mesa leading, 6-5, by first

quarter’s end. Be Diep scored all five points for the Eagles.

With 4:16 left in the second quarter, Mustangs sophomore Rachel

Evans left the game with a knee injury. Mesa teammate Tracy Bjelland

quickly responded by scoring four straight baskets in one minute,

giving Mesa a 14-7 lead.

The Eagles (6-19, 3-9 in league) kept it close but struggled to

stay within five at the end of the third quarter after Mustang junior

Judie Akansel (game-high 16 points) nailed a three-pointer at the

quarter-ending buzzer.

The Mustangs (8-17, 5-7) stretched the gap in the fourth, leading

by 10 with 4:23 remaining.

“We had them, but we didn’t execute, “ said Estancia Coach Ernie

Wright. “But I’m proud of them.”

The family and friends of the Mustangs swooped onto the court and

awaited to hear each of the Mustangs ring the bell. Mesa Coach Jim

Weeks observed from a distance with a smile on his face.

“We struggled this season,” said Weeks. “We didn’t get the wins we

wanted but we overcame injuries and the effort was always there.”

Estancia and Mesa coaches look onto next season with anticipation.

The Mustangs are only losing three players with most of their best

players returning, and the Eagles are losing four girls but returning

five seniors and nine juniors.

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 41 ,

Estancia 28

Score by Quarters

*--*

Mesa 6 10 10 15 -- 41

Estancia 5 8 8 7 -- 28

*--*

Costa Mesa -- Akansel 16, Bjelland 13, Courtney 6, Enesi 3,

Sanchez 0, Cluff 0.

3-pt. goals -- Akansel 3, Bjelland 1

Fouled out -- Sanchez.

Estancia -- Diep 9, Wilson 9, Pena 3, Arroyo 3, Neal 2, Sandoval

1, Flores 1.

3-pt. goals -- Pena 1.