CdM outlasts Estancia

COSTA MESA — A new coach and the Estancia High girls’ basketball team pushed the tempo.

Maybe a little too fast for an Eagles’ program coming off a 3-20 season.

After the game’s first three field goals, Estancia led Corona del Mar until the last two minutes as the turnovers finally caught up to the eager host team.

Ashley Kirby forced the Eagles’ 30th miscue, stealing the ball and racing down court to lay in the game-winner and lift the Sea Kings to a 35-32 season-opening victory Tuesday night.

In the final quarter, Kirby scored seven of her game-high 14 points, making Estancia’s new coach Tommy Rausch, a former assistant with the boys’ team, cringe.

Her new coach, Mark Decker, hoped that would happen.

“We’re trying to get Ashley to be much more aggressive,” said Decker, who was an assistant coach with the Orange Coast College men’s basketball team last year and before that coached the Irvine High boys’ team for five years.

“She’s just figuring out what she’s capable of doing.”

Estancia learned right away in the fourth.

Seeing her team make 7 of 44 shots in the first three quarters, Kirby elevated her play at a time Corona del Mar needed her to.

There wasn’t much chemistry offensively. Much of it could be attributed to having guard Shannon Johnson, guard Hayley Alder and center Conley Kipp join the team two days before the season opener, as the three were members of CdM’s volleyball team, which went to the CIF State regional semifinals.

“We were having a hard time getting into our offense,” said Kirby, who added seven rebounds and four steals.

Kirby, a guard, picked up CdM. She attacked the basket with 7:08 left, tying the game up at 25-25 after sinking in a shot while getting fouled. She converted the three-point play by making a free throw, something the Sea Kings struggled with throughout the night.

There were numerous opportunities at the line for CdM, but it hit only 10 of 23 free throws. Estancia put the visitors on the line by committing fouls out of frustration from turning the ball over.

“We have to stop playing lazy defense,” said Estancia guard Alondra Barrera, “because that’s what hurt us a lot.”

Despite the mishaps, Estancia still led until the 1:57 mark, when Kirby gave CdM a 33-32 lead.

Leading the way for the Eagles was forward Michelle Hallock, who scored eight of her team-high 10 points in the second half.

But just as she did earlier in the fourth, responding to the Sea Kings’ tying the game, it was Barrera that almost put Estancia ahead after Kirby’s layup.

Barrera’s three-pointer from the left arc rimmed in and out, but it didn’t do as much damage as the traveling violation called on Estancia forward Tamisha Williams with around 90 seconds left.

Then Williams fouled guard Allie Duernberger at the 1:19 mark.

Duernberger, who finished with nine points and seven steals, converted 1 of 2 free throws, pushing the Sea Kings’ advantage to two points.

Following that up were familiar shots by both teams — air balls. But Estancia managed to get the ball back into Corona del Mar’s side one last time.

Fourteen seconds remained and after Estancia called its final timeout, the Eagles decided to go for the win. They went to Barrera again.

Barrera, who finished with nine points, threw up her 13th three-pointer with seven seconds on the clock, but it didn’t go in and Corona del Mar’s Susan Moheimani came up with the rebound.

Estancia fouled her three seconds later. Moheimani hit 1 of 2 free throws, leaving Estancia with no chance to get a shot off after Moheimani clanked the second attempt.

“We just have to find ways to finish games, because that’s what good teams do,” said Rausch, whose team shot 28% from the field and only went to the free-throw line four times.

“We’ve been together for 2 1/2 weeks and we’ve made a lot of progress. We’re going to be a tough team come (Orange Coast) league (play).”

By then Estancia might be up to speed.

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 35,

Estancia 32

Score by Quarters

CdM 5 7 10 13 — 35 Est 11 6 8 7 — 32

CdM -- Kirby 14, Duernberger 9, Luce 4, Johnson 3, Moheimani 3, Stern 2.

3-pt. goals -- Duernberger 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Est -- Hallock 10, Barrera 9, Williams 5, Monteiro 4, Koff 2, Arroyo 2.

3-pt. goals -- Barrera 3.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.