DIVISIONS IV AND V : Costa Mesa Gets a Scare Before Defeating Sacred Heart

Costa Mesa came about as close as it would like to elimination in a Southern Section Division IV-AA girls’ basketball quarterfinal game Wednesday at Costa Mesa.

The Mustangs, trailing 35-20 early in the second half, put together a furious run and beat La Canada Flintridge Sacred Heart, 46-42.

“I kind of let them have it halftime,” Costa Mesa Coach Lisa McNamee said.

The Mustangs, defending Division III-A champions, will play Santa Ynez, the second-seed Saturday.

Costa Mesa trailed at halftime, 25-18, thanks to the Tologs’ Liz Doyd, who had 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Sacred Heart opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run before Costa Mesa countered with a 18-4 run, closing to within one, at 39-38, entering the fourth quarter.

“We talked at the half about moving the ball up the court,” McNamee said. “That’s what we need to do and we got away from that when Heather (Robinson) was on the bench.”

Robinson led the Mustangs’ second-half charge with seven points and finished with 13.

The fourth quarter was slow-paced. Costa Mesa took the lead for good with 4 minutes 36 seconds remaining when Tracy Vega converted a baseline jumper to give the Mustangs a 42-41 lead.

Robinson increased the lead seconds later with a jump shot, and Doan Do put the game away with a pair of free throws with 12 seconds remaining.

“We picked up our defense in the fourth quarter,” McNamee said. “They committed some turnovers trying to go inside to Doyd and we tried to run our plays more methodically.”

Doyd was held to eight points and three rebounds in the second half. She finished with a game-high 21 points and 16 rebounds.

For Costa Mesa, Do finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.