Laguna Hills Steps Up to Knock Down No. 4 Esperanza

Laguna Hills dropped the first bomb of the Orange County Championship on Wednesday.

The Hawks, losers by 21 points a night earlier, scored a 51-41 upset of Esperanza, which is ranked fourth in Orange County.

As shockers go, this was a lightning flash. The Hawks could find themselves in the championship bracket if Esperanza beats 10th-ranked Foothill tonight by 10 points or fewer in the final round of pool play.

Megan Aaker scored 21 points, had seven rebounds and five steals to lead Laguna Hills, but it was her four-point play in a desperate fourth quarter that left onlookers slack jawed.

Esperanza had increased the defensive pressure on Laguna Hills, forcing nine of the Hawks’ 14 turnovers in the final quarter. The Hawks were unable to score in the opening minutes of the fourth and the Aztecs cut the deficit to 41-34, but Aaker made a long three-pointer and then a free-throw after the foul.

“I like taking that shot when the game gets close like that,” said Aaker, who was eight for 14 from the field. “I knew I wanted to take that shot when the momentum was changing.”

It was one of two field goals in the quarter. The other was a basket by Christianne Bengard off an assist from Aaker with 1 minute 17 seconds left.

Bengard and Christen D’Alessandro each scored 11 points, with D’Alessandro making some key baskets, including a steal and layup at the buzzer ending the first quarter to give Laguna Hills a 17-9 lead.

“This is especially good because of how we played against Foothill,” Aaker said, referring to a 48-27 loss after being tied at halftime. “We didn’t hang our heads.

“If we play hard, and with intensity, I think we can compete with most teams in the county.”

Laguna Hills is 8-6, and the Aztecs--whose only losses had been to top-ranked Troy and No. 2 San Clemente--are 8-4.

Laguna Hills shot 42.1% from the field, 16 of 38; the Hawks had shot 33.9% over the season. They kept the pace slow with their zone defense, and pushed the ball up the court successfully when they wanted.

“The bottom line in this tournament is if you don’t play well you lose, and even if you do play well, you can lose,” said Jim Martin, the Laguna Hills coach whose squad lost all four games in last year’s tournament and went on to win a Southern Section title.

Laura Jacobsen and Lindsey Helvey each scored 11 and Ashley Van Kurin had 10 for Esperanza.

In other games:

No. 1 Troy 70, Calvary Chapel 41--With Veronica Johns-Richardson ailing with the flu, Kianey Givens-Davis matched a school record with 35 points.

She matched a record held by Johns-Richardson and Heidi Hardeman, and also had nine rebounds.

Troy forced eight of Calvary Chapel’s 24 turnovers in the third quarter, and stretched its lead to 47-28 after three quarters.

Amanda Livingston scored 13 points. Johns-Richardson, who saw limited action, did not score but had eight assists.

Rosary 66, Riverside North 39--The fifth-ranked Royals (11-2) stopped a two-game losing streak behind Jennie Asensio, who scored 20, Jen Farner, who had 16, and Jenise Karcher, who scored 15.

Karcher had 10 rebounds and Farner had eight assists for Rosary.

North dropped to 4-7.

No. 2 San Clemente 74, Mater Dei 56--Kim Buffum had a school-record 13 assists and freshman Lindsey Pluimer scored 19 points for San Clemente (10-1). Ashley Voisinet scored 19 for Mater Dei (4-8).