Youth Scene: Ensign wins title

The Ensign eighth-grade girls' basketball team defeated Dwyer, 21-18, to win the Coastal Athletic League championship.

It was the second straight championship for the group of girls. With the game going back and forth throughout, Ensign took control late in the fourth quarter with key shots and tough defense.

Ensign ended the regular season in a three-way tie for first place and defeated Costa Mesa, Corona del Mar and Dwyer en route to the title. Ensign avenged its only loss of the season by defeating CdM in the semifinals. Ensign was led by its hard-nosed team defense, holding six of its nine opponents to under 10 points. The team included Kaitlynn Bell, Mackenzie Gaddis, Toni Holland, Sammie Yeager, Ali Bonds, Carlee Kapana, Brooke Zachary, Rachel Whitelegge, Bowie Villoria, Katie Duhoux, Hannah Doolin and Jessica Ochoa.

CdM undefeated

The Corona del Mar seventh-grade middle school girls' basketball team finished a perfect season with a Pacific Coast League Championship.

The undefeated CdM team faced Ensign in the final match at Ensign, which ended with a 38-22 win. The No. 1 seed Seaweed team set the pace of the game from the beginning and won with tough defense, its ability to control the paint and its overall team effort on offense.

Top scorer of the game Krista Andersen finished the game with 15 points and dominated the boards. Fellow post player Natalia Bruening dished off the ball several times and finished with seven assists and seven points. Point guard Ally Rosenblum handled the pressure well with controlled ball handling, few turnovers and great ball movement. She finished with eight points. Siena Sharf was very consistent with her shot, missing very little from outside. She scored eight points. The game was won, however, on the defensive end.

Kelly Tam had the difficult job of shutting down fellow Newport Lightning club player and top scorer Marina LaPuzza, who had led Ensign to many victories during league play and was unstoppable in Ensign's semifinal match against TeWinkle. Tam held her to three points. Jasmine Winters from Ensign also had a great game and finished with 11 points.

Also contributing to the CdM title were: Carly Michaels, Lauren Alvarez, Taylor Alvarez, Val Hunter, Kate Hunter, Caroline Allesandro, Lexi Osterberg and Melody Yoo. CdM's team was coached by Julia Bruening with assistants Isaias Morales and Ellie Nadal.

Carden does it