GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Costa Mesa Applies the Pressure to Defeat Santa Ana in Winter Classic

Costa Mesa girls’ basketball Coach Jim Weeks has one set rule about when to employ his team’s 2-2-1 trapping press defense.

“We use it when we’re healthy, because it works pretty well when we are,” Weeks said.

Santa Ana won’t argue. Costa Mesa, using a nine-player rotation, effectively pressed and trapped its way to a 64-30 victory over the Saints in the first round of the Costa Mesa Winter Classic Thursday night at Costa Mesa High School.

The Mustangs (6-4) went on a 23-5 run in a six-minute span of the first half to break open a close game. Santa Ana (5-1), which entered the tournament as Orange County’s last unbeaten girls’ team, turned the ball over 17 times in the first half against Costa Mesa’s press.

Olivia DiCamilli and Heather Robinson spurred the Mustangs’ pressure defense, each making three steals followed by layups during the blitz. Costa Mesa turned a 5-2 deficit into a 29-10 lead during its run.

DiCamilli, Costa Mesa’s returning all-Southern Section forward, scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds. April Van Sweden and Yool Kim each scored 12 points for Costa Mesa, with Van Sweden adding nine rebounds.

Santa Ana finished with 33 turnovers. Costa Mesa stopped pressing in the second half after opening a 39-16 halftime lead.

The Mustangs meet San Luis Obispo in the second round at 8 tonight.