Lackluster Laguna Hills Stops Surging Estancia

Laguna Hills played Mater Dei in the Marina tournament title 11 days ago, solidifying itself as an Orange County power.

The Hawks have scheduled the best opponents they could find, performed well, and ascended to No. 5 in Orange County’s Top 10 poll.

But after its 46-40 Pacific Coast League victory over Estancia on Tuesday, Coach Lynn Taylor wondered aloud.

“We came into the tournaments with such low expectations,” Taylor said, “I almost wonder if we’re afraid to be good.

“I think what happened to us is we’re used to being the underdog. Now, people are shooting for us and the kids don’t know how to respond to that.”

The game wasn’t close until the end, but Estancia (14-2, 1-1 in league) showed that if the Hawks (13-2, 2-0) blink, the opposition is willing to try for the knockout.

Jessica Waltz (four three-pointers, 21 points) scored 10 in the fourth quarter, eight in a 12-1 run over the final 1 minute 15 seconds to make it close. No teammate scored more than seven points.

The late run came after Laguna Hills took a 7-0 lead within three minutes of the tipoff, led, 27-11, at halftime and by 19 points with 4:04 left in the third quarter.

Then, lacking the killer instinct of the county’s four elite teams, they weren’t the same.

“My concern is that if we’re going to stay in the top 10,” Taylor said, “we’ve got to stay focused for a whole game.”

Tamara Inoue and Whitney Houser (eight rebounds, three steals) scored 12 points apiece for Laguna Hills, and 6-foot-6 Tayyiba Haneef (six rebounds) had 11 points. Marissa Trienen (10 rebounds) added eight points.

“We didn’t quit, and that’s what I like,” Estancia Coach Russ Davis said. “We can’t play two quarters against a great team. But we played bad because they made us play bad.”