El Toro Rolls Over Esperanza

Because of the Mendiola sisters, El Toro rarely uses a third option on offense. But lately, the second-seeded Chargers have been getting more players into the sister act.

Giuliana Mendiola scored 35 points and Gioconda Mendiola had 16 in the Chargers’ 73-53 victory over Esperanza, but it was other starters who provided the early push in the Southern Section Division I-AA girls’ basketball game Wednesday at Esperanza.

Amy Everett scored eight of her 10 points in the first four minutes and Ingrid Look and Amy Rikimaru also had baskets to help the Chargers to an early 12-3 lead, which they never relinquished. El Toro will play Fontana Miller in the quarterfinals Saturday.

“Our team’s been working on that in practice,” Giuliana Mendiola said. “We’ve been moving the ball a lot because we know teams will be focusing on us a little more. Our team is stepping it up and I’m very proud of them.”

Giuliana came into the game averaging 24.5 points, but didn’t score until 1 minute 10 seconds remained in the first quarter. Gioconda, who came in averaging 19 points, was held scoreless until she sank a three-pointer with 5:10 remaining in the first half.

“What’s happening is we’re getting all those kids involved right at the beginning of the game because the other teams are so concerned about the Mendiolas,” El Toro Coach Vin Avitabile said. “As the [opponents’] defense gets better, we need to go to the third option.”

Giuliana Mendiola scored 12 points in the second quarter and the Chargers made seven of nine shots to lead, 37-24, at the half.

El Toro (21-4) led by 21 midway through the third quarter, but Esperanza guard Allison Gerber scored seven points in a 13-0 run to cut the lead to 49-41 with 30 seconds left in the quarter. Gioconda Mendiola answered with consecutive three-pointers to start the fourth and El Toro was back ahead by 14 points.

“We definitely had a breakdown in the third quarter,” Avitabile said. “We did real well for the first couple minutes, and then hit that dead spot. They made it close every chance they could. We were about to blow it open two or three times, but then [Gerber] sank those shots.”