Gentling stifles Little

COSTA MESA — The last time Costa Mesa High guard Amy Gentling faced Fountain Valley, Sami Little lit her up for six three-pointers.

Gentling had witnessed a hot stroke before when a teammate last year made seven from long rage, tying a school record.

Now it was Gentling’s time to stop Little from having another career day.

She made sure Little would finish with very little Saturday.

The 5-4 junior put the clamps on a player four inches taller. Gentling allowed Little an opening quarter three-pointer, but Little failed to make another until late in the fourth.

By then the reserves were in as Costa Mesa was seconds away from picking up a 61-44 victory in the consolation championship of the 25th annual Costa Mesa Winter Classic.

Near the end Little flung one more three-pointer that fell short, just as she did in the second meeting against Gentling. Gentling held Little to eight points and two three-pointers, numbers way below the 21 points and six three-pointers Little recorded the first time around.

“This game I just decided to not let her shoot,” Gentling said. “She was frustrated, but I didn’t [pay attention]. I just played my defense. That’s all I worried about.”

The Mustangs (9-6) followed Gentling’s game plan at the start of the second half to beat the Barons (6-7) again.

When Costa Mesa’s offense struggled, posting only 26 points at halftime, the defense created scoring opportunities.

Point guard Michelle Figueroa got things started, attacking the interior defense for two straight baskets to open the third. Figueroa led everyone with 21 points to go with 12 rebounds and five assists, earning all-tournament honors.

Then after slowing down Little, Gentling began shooting from behind the three-point arc, where she made three. She swished one and then banked another in two minutes later, capping a 17-0 run to give Costa Mesa a 43-28 lead with 1:22 remaining in the third.

Gentling finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three steals, more importantly she contributed to Fountain Valley’s offensive woes with stifling defense. The Barons finally recorded their first points with 12 seconds left in the third after missing 17 straight shots. Jessica Boaz scored underneath the basket on an in-bound pass, the only defensive lapse for Costa Mesa in the quarter.

“We talked at halftime about [being] a little soft in the first half,” said Costa Mesa Coach Jim Weeks, whose team won three straight after dropping its opening-round tournament game to Valencia of Valencia, 75-38. “Consolation champ is really good. I really like the way we’re playing. We’re playing with some enthusiasm and some resolve out there. I think we’re ready for [Orange Coast League play].”

The Mustangs will have a long layoff before they start their league title defense. The league opener is at home on Jan. 11 against cross-town rival Estancia, a team Costa Mesa has owned in recent years.

Several key contributors like Figueroa, Gentling, Kathy Trinh and Jasmine Werdel return from last year’s team going 8-1 in league. Werdel was one of those players creating problems for the young Barons with her 5-foot-11 size.

Werdel scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots. The only player in double figures for Fountain Valley was guard Helena Robel, who finished with 13 points. But she fouled out in the fourth trying to defend the bigger Figueroa.

The Barons went 2-2 during the four-day tournament and first-year coach Saki Takemoto has the team playing better than last year.

“It was a little frustrating,” said Takemoto of watching her team fall apart offensively in the third quarter because Fountain Valley hung with Costa Mesa in its first meeting before losing, 69-64, on Dec. 7.

“But they only won five games [last year]. I know that we have potential.”

Costa Mesa Winter Classic

Consolation championship

Costa Mesa 61, Fountain Valley 44

SCORE BY QUARTERS

FV – Robel 13, Little 8, Adams 6, Smadi 5, Boaz 4, Reeves 4, Lim 2, Mayer 2.

3-pt. goals – Little 2, Smadi 1.

Fouled out – Robel.

Technicals – None.

CM – Figueroa 21, Gentling 13, Werdel 12, Trinh 6, Judkins 4, Bauermeister 3, Rosello 2.

3-pt. goals – Figueroa 3, Gentling 3, Bauermeister 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].