THE PREPS : Mission Viejo Knocks Off Capo Valley

A stifling press, a height advantage and a hot-shooting guard combined to lift the Mission Viejo High School girls’ basketball team to a 53-38 South Coast League victory over Capistrano Valley Thursday at Mission Viejo.

Tricia Stringam, Mission Viejo’s senior guard, found a shooting groove in the second quarter, when she scored 9 of the Diablos’ 17 points. Thanks to Stringam, who finished with a game-high 15 points, the Diablos stretched a 13-10 first-quarter lead to 30-20 at halftime.

The press and the height advantage each was a contributing factor why Capistrano Valley (13-5 overall, 3-1 in league play) was unable to catch Mission Viejo (16-5, 3-1).

“In the second quarter, we finally started moving our offense,” Mission Viejo Coach Steve Asay said. “Our defense was good in the first quarter. It was good all game. (The press) created problems for them.”

Mission Viejo led by just five, 19-14, midway through the second quarter when Stringam, who got off to a slow start, got it going. Stringam, who averages 18 points a game, made all but two of the Diablos’ last 11 points in the half.

She made a jump shot to push the lead to 21-14. Another jumper a minute later made it 25-16. Stringam followed her own missed shot to stretch the lead to 27-16. Another jumper by Stringam made it 29-16.

Her free throw with seven seconds left rounded out the scoring for Mission Viejo in the half.

In the third quarter, the Cougars got to within six points on a jumper by forward Heather Schoney, who had a team-high 12 points. But outside jump shots by Shannon Morgan, Stringam and Tina Ranker quelled that Capistrano Valley threat.

Morgan, a junior guard who scored 13 points, was one of three Mission Viejo players to score in double figures.

Center Tricia Hill, who is the team’s only senior other than Stringam, added 12 points.

“We didn’t play under control,” Capistrano Valley Coach Stan DeMaggio said. “We played their game. We came down and (made) one pass, then shot. We can’t do that.”