LA COSTA ---- At what point is a win not quite good enough? When a team with championship apirations fails to play to its potential.
La Costa Canyon High girls basketball coach John Labeta was afraid his Mavericks were doing just that, winning their last two games in unimpressive fashion.
But on Wednesday, the No. 3-ranked Mavs were impressive in one of the best halves of the season en route to a 68-36 victory over San Pasqual in the Avocado League opener. La Costa Canyon (13-4) scored 48 points in a first half with a 20-for-33 effort from the field.
"They made more baskets that half than we scored points,'' San Pasqual coach Beck Flanagan said.
The 48-17 halftime lead allowed the remainder of the game to be played without any pressure. Except that Labeta saw some of the life the Mavs showed last year when they won their first CIF San Diego Section Division I championship.
And that carried over into all phases of the game. While the Mavs hit 29-of-61 shots, they held the Eagles (13-5) to a 13-for-54 night. La Costa Canyon led by as much as 29 points in the first half and stretched its lead to 34 early in the second half.
"We need 32 minutes like we played the first half," Labeta said. "Last year we hit that place midway through league play. By the time the playoffs started we were 32 minutes of great basketball."
Unlike wins last week over Rancho Bernardo (57-43) and Rancho Buena Vista (70-45) ---- thanks in large part to a 38-16 effort in the second half ---- the Mavs took the lead at 4-3 and never looked back. In all, 10 Mavericks scored in the game.
"We came out the last two games and didn't play our basketball," said junior guard Jen Dumiak, who took game scoring honors with 18 points. "In the first half I think we were pumped for the start of league play. We picked up our defense and seemed to have more fight in us. We got good shots, points off the fastbreak, rebounded and played good defense. It didn't seem like we scored that much until I looked at the scoreboard at halftime."
Gracie Platt, Madisen Irwin and Bridget Whitfield also scored nine points for the Mavs. Irwin cleared nine rebounds while Whitfield added eight.
Kelsey Harbin and Jessica Birchall led the Eagles with 14 points and 12 points, respectively. Birchall also collected 12 rebounds while Harbin had seven.
"We had nothing to lose last year,'' Dumiak added. "It's a lot different this year. I never knew how tough it is to play as the defending champion. We have everything to lose and the other team can make their season by beating us.
"You learn early that everyone else is head-hunting the champion."
Contact staff writer Terry Monahan at 760-739-6648.
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