Enriquez, Godinez too much for Estancia girls’ basketball

The Estancia High girls’ basketball team appeared to be in a good position heading into Orange Coast League play.

Coming into the week, the Eagles had won three of their last four games, and they added to the run by winning their league opener against Saddleback on Tuesday.

Defending league champion Godinez, on the other hand, had dropped 10 of 12 games after beginning the season by winning its first three.

The return of a key contributor has served notice to the rest of the league that Godinez will not be knocked off its perch so easily.

Senior guard Nancy Enriquez scored a game-high 20 points to lead the visiting Grizzlies past Estancia 76-33 in an Orange Coast League game on Thursday night.

Enriquez was playing in just her second game of the season, back from a right ACL tear that she suffered in the first league game against Estancia last season. She drained six three-pointers.

Having watched her teammates win a league title without her last season, Enriquez said she is motivated by the prospect of helping her team achieve that goal again.

“My teammates always motivate me so that I can get back on the court,” Enriquez said. “Last year, when I watched them play, it was like, ‘Wow, I want to be a part of that.’ It’s just an honor.”

Senior forward Julissa Prieto scored 13 points with eight rebounds for the Grizzlies (6-10, 2-0 in league). Sophomore guard Udeliva Arreola added 11 points.

Estancia committed 16 turnovers in the first half against the full-court press of Godinez. It was enough to put the Eagles (6-10, 1-1) behind the eight ball, as they trailed 43-16 at halftime.

Senior guard Johanna Herrera led Estancia with 10 points, scoring all of them in the third quarter. Junior forward Dayanna Martinez and senior forward Wendy Santillan each had seven points.

In spite of the loss, first-year Eagles co-coach Ramia Griffin has seen marked improvement from the team from when she first met the players.

“I’ve been trying to install confidence,” Griffin said. “From the first day that I met them until now, I think they have vastly improved. I just want us to keep building upon that.

“My goal is whatever their goals are, and their goal is to make the playoffs. I’m trying to make that happen any way I can.”

Up next for Estancia is a road game against Laguna Beach on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

*

Godinez 76, Estancia 33

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Godinez 16 – 27 – 20 – 13 — 76

Estancia 9 – 7 – 14 – 3 — 33

G – Enriquez 20, Prieto 13, Arreola 11, R. McMorris 9, Sanchez 6, Espericueta 6, C. McMorris 6, Castro 3, Canada 2.

3-pt. goals – Enriquez 6, Arreola 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

E – Herrera 10, Santillan 7, Martinez 7, Cruz 5, Leon 2, Escorcia 2.

3-pt. goals – Herrera 2.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

andrew.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner