Girls basketball: Newport-Mesa trio a cut above

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - When it comes to Pacific Coast League girls

basketball, the apparent haves all share Newport-Mesa ties.

Defending champion Corona del Mar, which ran the table to claim its

first league title in nearly two decades last season, takes the

favorite’s label into tonight’s league openers.

Estancia and Costa Mesa are not far behind the Sea Kings, but appear

to be head and shoulders above the have-not trio of University, Northwood

and Laguna Beach.

In other words, the games in which two Newport-Mesa teams do not

square off, figure to have all the suspense of a Sopranos rerun.

CdM’s 5-10 preleague record, including an eight-game losing streak,

was largely attributable to strong competition, as well as a string of

injuries and illnesses, from which Coach Elbert Davis’ squad has

significantly recovered.

Senior Kristin McCoy, the Daily Pilot PCL and Newport-Mesa District

Player of the Year as a junior, is back in the lineup after sitting out

with a bruised kidney. She is averaging 14.5 points per contest.

Sophomore Jackie McCoy (7.9 ppg), as well as juniors Courtney Kawata

(6.3), Andrea Gruber (4.6) and Carrie Hawkins (4.3), are other CdM

notables. Jackie McCoy was first-team all-league as a freshman and Gruber

was a second-team choice.

After going 1-3 against tough competition in the post-Christmas Marina

Tournament, Estancia did not play last week in order to prepare for

tonight’s opener against crosstown rival Costa Mesa.

Coach Paul Kirby’s 8-7 unit, a blend of seniors and talented

underclassmen, may have as much cumulative talent as any team in the

circuit.

Sophomore Xochitl Byfield (11.7 ppg), senior sharpshooter Zuyin

Barrera (11.4) and freshman guard Trisha Wase (9.1) spearhead a balanced

scoring arsenal for the Eagles.

Senior guard Lisa Hirata sets the defensive tone, while Jessica

Orellana, Tisha Gray and Tory Matsufuji also play vital roles.

Barrera, one of the league’s best offensive players, was first-team

all-league as a junior. Hirata was second-team All-PCL last season.

Mesa is led by the senior backcourt tandem of Nancy Hatsushi and Leigh

Marshall. Hatsushi, a decorated fourth-year varsity performer, is

averaging 15.3 points, Marshall, the team’s emotional leader, chips in

10.5 ppg.

How well Coach Jim Weeks’ Mustangs do, however, may depend on a

supporting cast consisting of frontcourt players Rhondi Naff, Laura Muniz

and Christine Caron, as well as guards Barbara Trejo and Miranda Cooper.

University (6-8) will rely on 6-2 senior center Kirsten von Tungeln to

carry the load.

Northwood (8-9) makes its varsity debut without seniors and Laguna

Beach (2-4) continues its perennial struggle.

PCL Girls Handicap: school, odds, comment

1. Corona del Mar (5-2) ... Health Sea Kings’ biggest foe.

Estancia (3-1) ... Eagles determined, deep and dangerous.

Costa Mesa (8-1) ... Hatsushi, Marshall need some help.

University (20-1) ... Trojans, once again, short on horses.

Northwood (40-1) ... Stuck south of upper echelon, for now.

Laguna Beach (100-1) ... Artists should require frequent hugs.