Estancia Handles Foothill

Estancia High School’s basketball team got off on the right track in the 3-A Southern Section playoffs Wednesday with a 55-49 first-round victory over host Foothill.

Estancia (20-5), the eighth-ranked team in the 3-A division, will face Norte Vista. A coin flip will determine the game’s location. Foothill ends the season 15-11.

Guard Augustin Heredia led Estancia with 19 points, but the inspired play of senior center Tim Kjar may have been the difference in this game. Kjar scored 16 points and provided strong play on defense the entire game.

Foothill did a nice job of shutting down Mike Curtis, Estancia’s leading scorer, who came into the game averaging 22.4 points. Curtis scored 10 points, all in the second half.

The teams traded leads the entire game. Foothill guard Ward VanPelt tossed in a three-pointer with 3 seconds left in the half to tie the score, 22-22.