Estancia in Top Form in Beating Foothill : Division III-AA: Eagles win, 70-58, for their 14th victory in a row.

As it had done throughout the playoffs, the Estancia basketball team took only a few minutes to serve notice that it’s ready to repeat as the Division III-AA champion.

The Eagles won their 14th consecutive game, building a 21-point lead in the second quarter and holding off a second-half comeback for a 70-58 victory over Foothill in a quarterfinal game Friday night at the Edison gym.

Top-seeded Estancia (23-4) advanced to Tuesday’s semifinal against Ganesha, a 62-39 winner over Troy. Foothill ended the season 15-12.

The Eagles, who won their two first-round games by 32 and 28 points, made 10 of 15 shots in the first quarter, including five of six three-pointers. Sun Ly made three three-pointers in the quarter, including one from the top of the key with two seconds left.

“We were on fire in the first quarter,” Estancia Coach Tim O’Brien said. “When we can get an 18-point lead early and give me something to work with, we’re fine. Foothill’s a methodical team, and it’s hard for them to catch up.”

Foothill Coach Jim Reames said his players couldn’t get anything going early. The Knights had seven turnovers and made only three of 10 shots in the first quarter.

“We haven’t played like that all year,” Reames said. “I can’t explain it. We just played bad team offense and bad team defense in the first quarter.”

With O’Brien substituting freely early in the second quarter, the Eagles continued increasing their lead. Mike Haas’ short jumper with 4:14 left in the quarter gave Estancia its biggest lead, 37-16. The Eagles led, 42-26, at halftime.

But Foothill whittled away at Estancia’s lead in the third quarter. Estancia’s hot outside shooting began to cool; the Eagles made seven of 21 shots in the second half.

Forward Sean Amos, who missed his three first-half shots, scored all of his 10 points in a 16-6 third-quarter run by Foothill. Nick Konopisos’ layup with one minute 38 seconds left in the quarter cut the deficit to 48-42.

“This team has a tendency to let up sometimes,” O’Brien said. “We’re a little soft at times. But the whole key with us is the way we start the game.”

The Eagles showed they can finish it, too.

Paul McDaniels had seven of his 14 points in the final quarter, including a key three-pointer with 5:48 left that gave Estancia a 58-48 lead.

Foothill hurt itself down the stretch, commiting five turnovers in the final 4:42.

Ly and Haas each finished with 15 points for Estancia.

Matt Fuerbringer, a 6-foot-6 junior, scored 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Eagles, and contributed some tough defense on Konopisos, Foothill’s 6-7 center. Konopisos, who had 31 points in the second round against Newport Harbor, finished with 15 against Estancia.