Win Secondary for Esperanza
It took two days for Esperanza forward Kristin Peters to really feel the effects of a loss on Tuesday.
Peters and Bethany Blair led the sixth-ranked Aztecs to a 41-25 Sunset League victory over third-ranked Edison on Thursday, but still found themselves in second place, a game behind the Chargers with two to play.
It was Esperanza’s second win in three games this season against Edison, which had won nine in a row. The Aztecs had looked forward to Thursday’s showdown for first place but got caught looking past Huntington Beach on Tuesday and lost, 50-49.
“We did what we wanted to against Edison, but on the other hand, it got us nowhere,” said Peters, who scored 15. “That loss is the only thing I can think about. I’m so disappointed to beat Edison and have no chance of being first.”
Edison (16-8, 7-1), which plays Huntington Beach on Tuesday, needs only one win to clinch its second consecutive league title and third in five years. Esperanza is 18-6, 6-2, and is focusing on the playoffs.
Esperanza played outstanding defense, sparked by Blair, who scored 17 points, had four steals and blocked four shots. She also had five rebounds, and negated the play of Edison’s Michelle Zylstra.
Zylstra scored a team-high nine points on a night when Edison made only 10 of 43 shots. The Chargers had only nine points by halftime, and trailed, 31-15, going into the fourth quarter.
In the Empire League:
Century 41, Loara 25--Charlenda Van Buren had 21 points as Century (20-4, 8-0) clinched the league title.
In the Orange League:
No. 2 Brea Olinda 59, Valencia 51--Chelsea Trotter had 18 points and 18 rebounds as Brea (18-5, 8-0) nearly had its league winning streak ended at 128 games. Valencia (20-3, 6-2) trailed going into the fourth quarter, 40-39. Former Brea guard Michelle Pietka scored 26 and Monika Jackley 16.
In the Pacific Coast League:
Estancia 61, Corona del Mar 48--Zuyin Barrera scored 24 points as Estancia (13-9, 5-2) prevented Corona del Mar (19-5, 5-1) from clinching a share of first place.