Eagles’ Big 3 too big

Steve Virgen

So the saying goes, to the victor go the spoils, and Estancia High

senior Xochitl Byfield didn’t shy away from living up to such after

the Eagles girls basketball team defeated host Costa Mesa, 56-34, in

a Golden West League game Thursday.

“This is our city and we’re going to rule it all the way,” Byfield

said after scoring 14 points despite struggling with foul trouble.

“We showed them. We were coming into this game with the thought that

this is going to be easy and this is our game. Everyone was fired

up.”

Aside from Byfield, the Mustangs (10-6, 2-1 in league) also had to

contend with senior Tisha Gray and junior Trisha Wase, who scored a

season-high and game-high 21 points to go with eight assists. Wase’s

superb ball-handling skills broke down Mesa’s defense, while Gray was

a force inside. Gray scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds and

recorded three steals. Estancia forward Nancy Castro also contributed

11 rebounds.

“You always know those three (Byfield, Gray and Wase) are going to

do a good job,” Mesa Coach Jim Weeks said. “They are quality players.

Tisha and (Byfield) were first-team all-league last year and Trisha

was the MVP (of the Pacific Coast League).”

Weeks was pleased with how the Mustangs started the game, but

obviously did not enjoy the finish. Costa Mesa answered an 18-10

deficit with a 7-2 run to come within, 20-17, with 3:30 left in the

second quarter. But, Estancia (9-8, 4-0) made its move and outscored

the Mustangs, 12-0, in the final 2:45 of the first half and took a

32-17 lead into the locker room.

The Eagles outscored Mesa, 20-9, in the second quarter and took

control of the game during their 12-0 spurt.

“We play as a team,” Estancia Coach Tami Rappa said of what led to

the Eagles’ win. “Everyone stepped up when we needed them to.”

The Eagles scored several baskets on long passes in transition,

which did not overly impress Rappa.

“I would rather them play basketball and run the offense,” the

Estancia first-year coach said. “They do it so well. I love seeing

that.”

Sometimes a little improvisation helps, too. With Estancia

leading, 47-29, in the fourth quarter, the Eagles were supposed to

run their stall offense to run out the clock. Wase, dribbling five

feet behind the top of the key, noticed the shot-clock ticking down

to two.

“What are you going to do now,” Rappa shouted at her point guard.

Wase pulled up from downtown and swished in a three-pointer, as

Estancia fans erupted in cheers. Wase found various ways to score.

There was the three-pointer, but she also scored because of dribble

penetration. She was 4 of 4 from the free-throw line and 8 of 13 from

the field. When the defense would crash on her she would dish to one

of her teammates for an assist.

“She’s our rock,” Rappa said of Wase. “She gives the team

momentum. She speeds us up and slows us down. With her being that

important and then add in her offense that make her a necessity to

this team.”

Costa Mesa senior Rickell Reeves led the Mustangs with 12 points,

scoring most of her points in the paint. She also had seven rebounds.

Senior Rhondi Naff faced constant double-team defense and finished

with eight points, only the second time this season she has been held

below double digits. Mesa senior Stacee Sanchez added nine points.