Estancia passes its retest

Eagles rebound from two tough losses to take down Costa Mesa in a Golden West League matchup, avenging an earlier loss.COSTA MESA -- The key for the Estancia High boys’ basketball team against Costa Mesa was to stop the three-headed offensive threat of Brian Molina, Scott Knox and Larry Puente.

Wednesday night -- eight days after Mesa romped over the Eagles -- Estancia re-tested its game plan and it worked to perfection in a 49-36 victory.

The Eagles (9-12, 3-4) held Costa Mesa to two points in the first quarter and limited Knox to three points after he had a scoreless first half.

“I told them that we had to contest every shot, making every one difficult,” said Estancia Coach Jason Simco.

Puente was held to four points -- all from the charity stripe -- in the first half. He finished with eight points.

“Hats off to Estancia,” said Costa Mesa Coach Ryan Schachter. “They out-competed us, out-hustled us, out-worked us, out-everything us.”

Perhaps it had to do with last week’s 66-51 loss to the Mustangs -- who entered the game tied for first place in the Golden West League with Ocean View. Or maybe it was the loss against Orange on Saturday that had the Eagles fed up.

Either way, the Eagles were ready to turn those losses into wins.

Estancia took an 11-2 lead in the first quarter, and ended the half up 14, with the help of senior Michael McDaniels, who amassed 10 of his 14 points in the first half.

Despite shooting 9-for-23 from the free throw line, the Eagles carried their momentum from the first half into the second, maintaining a 15-point lead throughout the third quarter.

The Mustangs made a defensive statement in the fourth quarter, rattling the Eagles and outscoring them, 16-13, after taking off on a 6-0 run. With two minutes left, a three-pointer by Brian Molina narrowed the gap to, 42-32.

“I just wanted to win,” said Costa Mesa junior Moses Titus. “And I didn’t want to lose by 20.”

But the Eagles, desperate to turn their season around, held on and a 3-0 run was enough to keep the bell on the Westside.

“We were all pumped up,” said Estancia guard Blake Pinto, who finished with 14 points. “We want revenge in this second round of league.”

Golden West League

Estancia 49,

Costa Mesa 36

Score by Quarters