SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION I-AA GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Esperanza Just Keeps on Rolling, Upsets Schurr, 57-41

After barely qualifying for postseason play, the Esperanza girls’ basketball team has definitely been making the most of it.

The Aztecs continued to roll Saturday night, upsetting Montebello Schurr, 57-41, in the second round of the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs at Esperanza High School.

The Aztecs (19-8) will face Hesperia in the quarterfinals Saturday.

Senior Kim Hayashi scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half, hitting seven of eight free throws to close the door on the Spartans.

With 6 minutes 17 seconds remaining, Esperanza starting point guard Monique Toney fouled out, forcing Coach Marc Hill to move Hayashi to the point.

“(Monique) just overdid it and played too fast,” Hill said. “But Kim handled the pressure of playing the point real well. All our seniors did a good job.”

Esperanza’s leading scorer, Lindsay Foss, scored a game-high 18 points, including six in the fourth quarter, and grabbed 10 rebounds.

The Aztecs committed 12 turnovers in the first half, allowing the Spartans to stay close. Esperanza led, 10-8, after the first quarter before opening a 28-20 lead at halftime.

“We had a tough time getting into our offensive pattern in the first half,” Hill said. “They had a lot of ball pressure. But we set up our offense in the second half.”

The Aztecs maintained an eight-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, when Hayashi and Foss took over.

After freshman Heidi Hill hit consecutive jumpers, Foss scored the next six points and Hayashi scored the final seven on free throws.

Schurr (20-6) was held to two field goals in the fourth quarter and shot 24% from the floor. Jennifer Matsui scored 12 points and sophomore Lisa Moya added 10 for the Spartans.