THE PREPS : Empire League Girls’ Basketball : Easterly and Gardner Lead Katella, 56-32

Joni Easterly scored 21 points and Melissa Gardner added 19 to lead Katella High School to a 56-32 Empire League girls’ basketball victory over Los Alamitos Thursday at Katella.

Easterly, a 5-foot 10-inch junior forward, scored nine points in the first quarter as Katella (12-8, 6-0) pulled out to a 17-3 lead. Six of those were scored in the last three minutes, during which time the Knights scored 12 unanswered points.

Los Alamitos (9-10, 3-3), playing without 6-1 starting forward Diane Sands, who was attending a wedding rehearsal, fared no better in the second period as Katella outscored the Griffins, 13-5, to put the game out of reach.

“We really missed Sands (who averages 15 points and 12 rebounds per game) out there,” said Al Gragniano, Los Alamitos coach. “She helps us out inside, and she helps us advance the ball against pressing defenses. Without her in there, we weren’t able to handle their pressing defense and couldn’t contest them the way we are capable of doing.”

Said Katella Coach Barb Bausch: “I was surprised not to see Sands out there. That really hurt them tonight. She makes them a completely different team.”

Los Alamitos was led by Jennifer Ensley, who scored 21 points, 16 in the second half.

Esperanza 48, Cypress 36--Jamye English and Jennifer Harney had 10 points each for the visiting Aztecs (9-10, 3-3). Esperanza led, 26-17, at halftime. Cypress is 3-3 in league.