COSTA MESA GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Capistrano Valley Sees Early Lead, Semifinal Victory Vanish

Arroyo Grande came back from an eight-point, first-quarter deficit to defeat Capistrano Valley, 42-41, Tuesday in the semifinals of the Costa Mesa tournament at Costa Mesa High.

Capistrano Valley (7-2) charged to an 11-3 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter, but the Eagles bounced back to within four at quarter’s end. They tied the score in the opening minutes of the second quarter.

Perfect free-throw shooting and solid defense allowed Arroyo Grande to keep pace in the second quarter, when the Cougars connected on only four of 13 shots from the field.

“We let them back in the ballgame in the second quarter, and it was a tough game from there on out,” Capistrano Valley Coach Harlan Peet said. “We got out of our offense, stopped fast-breaking and became very complacent.”

The score was tied, 21-21, at the half. But Capistrano Valley’s shooting problems persisted in the third quarter, when the Cougars made only four of 16 shots.

Meanwhile, Arroyo Grande was hitting from all over the court. With 1:35 left in the quarter, the Eagles led, 33-27.

Capistrano Valley center Angie White hit a jumper with just under six minutes left in the fourth quarter to tie the score, 34-34. With three minutes left, Stacey Howes made one of two free throws to give the Cougars a 41-40 lead.

Arroyo Grande forward Staci Andrews, who finished with 19 points, scored the winning layup with 2:13 left. Capistrano Valley’s Katie Scott took the game’s last shot, missing a jumper in front of the basket.

“It was a good game,” Peet said. “I enjoyed it. . . . I just wish we were on the other side of it.”

In other tournament games:

Costa Mesa 58, San Clemente 38--Senior forward Olivia DiCamilli had 23 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and four assists for the ninth-ranked Mustangs (8-4), setting up a final with Arroyo Grande tonight at 7:30.

DiCamilli is averaging 17 points and was three for four from the free throw line for Costa Mesa. Senior guard Yool Kim added 14 points, eight rebounds and six steals for the Mustangs.

Costa Mesa jumped to a 12-0 lead in the game’s first three minutes and stretched the lead to 23 in the second quarter. Costa Mesa outscored San Clemente (7-4), 16-6, in the third quarter.

Cypress 46, University 41--Jessica Eggleston scored 22 points and Julie Adams scored 17 and grabbed 19 rebounds to lead Cypress (8-4) to a consolation victory.