Girls’ Basketball: Duran is Co-MVP in Orange Coast League

Estancia High junior guard Celia Duran shared the MVP award in the Orange Coast League after helping the Eagles earn their second league title in three years.

Duran was joined by Estancia teammates, senior post player Gianna Jason and freshman point guard Maya Van Den Heever, as first-team all-league selections. Costa Mesa senior forward Molly Settles and junior point guard Danielle Obong were also on the first team.

Duran averaged a team-high 16.3 points, five assists and four steals per game for the Eagles, and was second with 4.6 rebounds per contest. She helped Estancia (20-8, 9-1 in league) win the outright league title and advance to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section 3A playoffs, where the Eagles fell to top-seeded Chaminade.

Duran shared the league MVP award with Laguna Beach freshman Jackie Cenan.

Jason averaged 3.9 points and a team-best 8.1 rebounds per game for the Eagles, along with two steals. Van Den Heever was second on the team with 9.2 points per game, as well as second in assists (3.7 per contest) and steals (3.0).

Settles led Costa Mesa by averaging 12.5 points per game. Obong was second on the team with 8.3 points per game, also averaging a team-best 2.6 steals.

They helped the Mustangs (15-13, 6-4 in league) tie for third in league and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA playoffs.

Estancia juniors Bryanna Vernon and Michelle Simmons, as well as Mesa senior Rachel Witter and junior Alexa Loredo, earned second-team all-league status.

— From staff reports