Robinson Is Other Star at Costa Mesa

She dribbles through defenses with the same ease she breezes through her favorite John Irving novel.

She writes short stories with peculiar endings, while most of her shots have the same finish . . . swish.

A self-proclaimed loner in junior high school, these days, no smart defender will leave her alone on the basketball court.

Welcome to Miss Robinson’s neighborhood.

Heather Robinson, a first-team All-Pacific Coast League selection last season, is Costa Mesa’s other girls’ basketball star.

OK, so she cringes when she hears the word star.

“I don’t want this story to sound like I think I’m better than Olivia,” Robinson said.

Olivia DiCamilli is Robinson’s teammate, the Mustangs’ all-everything player.

Last season, DiCamilli led the county in scoring, averaging 22.7 points. She also earned the league’s MVP award and first-team all-county honors for the second time.

“We depend on her in crunch time,” Robinson said. “Sometimes, she creates shots that are amazing.”

Robinson, on the other hand . . .

“I’m not a great shooter and I’m not that quick, “ she says. “So I just have to work harder.”

Robinson is a mite critical of herself, but the 5-foot-9 junior guard has averaged double figures in scoring through Costa Mesa’s first eight games this season.

While playing on the same team with DiCamilli has kept Robinson in the shadows, she sees everything in a positive light.

“I know I’ll get my due after Olivia graduates,” Robinson said. “Practicing against her every day is tough, but she pushes me and that makes me a better player. It makes our whole team better.”

Costa Mesa Coach Lisa McNamee knows it’s a luxury to have two high-caliber players on the same squad.

“I think you’re going to see big things out of both of those players,” McNamee said. “They’re really starting to gel together as a duo.”

It doesn’t appear that way when looking at Costa Mesa’s 4-4 record, but McNamee is pleased with what she’s seen.

“We’ve lost to Brea-Olinda twice, Capistrano Valley and Cerritos Gahr,” McNamee said. “Those are three very good teams. I’m not shocked or concerned right now. I think we have to be patient and just execute the things we’ve been working on in practice.”

McNamee, who spent last season as an assistant coach on Stanford’s NCAA championship women’s basketball team, has lots of new things to teach the Mustangs.

And it’s practice time Robinson most enjoys.

“I really look forward to practice now,” she said. “It’s been awesome working with Coach McNamee. We’ve learned so much.”

One thing Robinson is learning is a new position. After averaging five assists last season at point guard, McNamee moved Robinson to off-guard to provide another scoring threat.

“It’s rare that you have two players who can score like Olivia and Heather,” McNamee said.

With Robinson and DiCamilli leading the way, Costa Mesa hopes to win its second consecutive league championship and make a run at the Southern Section title.

Last season, Costa Mesa lost in overtime, 75-74, to eventual champion Rancho Alamitos in the Division III-A semifinals.

“We’re taking it one step at a time,” McNamee said. “First win our tournament, win league, then our first playoff game. The rest will take care of itself.”

And a place for a Southern Section championship trophy in Miss Robinson’s neighborhood is something she’d like to see.