Estancia falls to Santa Ana in rematch

While many believe that a nonleague schedule will serve its purpose best by allowing a team to see different styles of play, an early-season rematch has its own benefits.

When two competitive teams face each other twice within a short time span, it allows them to examine how well they can make the necessary adjustments.

The girls’ basketball teams of Estancia High and Santa Ana squared off on Nov. 28 in the Oxford Academy Tournament, a game that the Saints won by a seven-point margin.

Estancia coach Judd Fryslie said before Tuesday night’s game that his team has been notoriously slow starters this season.

Old habits die hard, and the Eagles once again found themselves in a hole. Estancia would mount a rally in the second half, but it was not enough to prevent visiting Santa Ana from coming away with a 50-40 win.

Junior forward Esperanza Reyes had 14 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks to lead the Saints (5-5). Gloriana Camarena added seven points and seven steals, while Elizabeth Zavala scored eight points with five rebounds.

The first half was played at a frenetic pace, with both teams showing a willingness to push the ball in transition. Fastbreak layups accounted for the bulk of the Eagles’ scoring chances.

Up-and-down basketball resulted in a high turnover rate, though. Camarena came up with five steals in the first quarter alone.

Not to be outdone, Jennifer Leon had four first-half steals for Estancia (1-4).

Santa Ana outscored the Eagles 14-8 in the first quarter, and the Saints led 23-16 at halftime.

A bright spot in the opening period was the shooting of Johanna Herrera, as the senior knocked down a pair of three-pointers. She finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Herrera offered the following as an answer to her team’s repeated slow starts this season.

“I think going hard to the basket, taking every shot possible, and working hard on defense is a good way to start the game,” she said, adding that the team is a close group and the Eagles’ goal is to make the playoffs.

Estancia went 2-8, finishing in last place in the Orange Coast League last season. One thing that is different is the addition of co-coach Ramia Griffin.

“Starting off her first year of coaching, she’s doing really great to motivate us,” Herrera said of Griffin. “She is bringing a lot of us closer together as a team and helping us hustle.

The Eagles made their run in the third quarter. A seven-point quarter from Fatima Gutierrez (12 points, nine rebounds and four steals) helped Estancia trim a 13-point deficit to 32-29 with 58 seconds left in the period.

Santa Ana outscored Estancia 16-11 in the final quarter.

*

Santa Ana 50, Estancia 40

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Santa Ana 14 – 9 – 11 – 16 — 50

Estancia 8 – 8 – 13 – 11 — 40

SA – Reyes 14, Zavala 8, Camarena 7, Mojica 6, De La Paz 5, Barajas 4, Rueda 4, Alegria 2.

3-pt. goals – Mojica 2.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

E – Herrera 13, Gutierrez 12, Santillan 8, Leon 3, Cruz 2, Kenneth 2.

3-pt. goals – Herrera 3, Gutierrez 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

andrew.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner