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NEWPORT BEACH — When Fairmont Prep’s girls basketball team was offered the chance to face state powerhouse Sierra Canyon at the second annual Pacifica Christian showcase, Huskies coach Josh Lozano quickly answered.
“(Heck) yeah,” he told Pacifica Christian coach Pablo Martinez. “We want play against the best. If we can play against the best, we can see what we need to work on and see where we stand. That’s why we’re here.”
Fairmont Prep received the feedback it was seeking Tuesday night despite Sierra Canyon playing without star Jerzy Robinson.
The Trailblazers used their size advantage and depth to handle Orange County’s No. 3-ranked team 81-63 in the feature game at the showcase at Pacifica Christian High.
Post Emilia Krstevski, a 6-foot-4 junior, scored a game-high 22 points to help the Trailblazers (2-0) outscore Fairmont Prep (4-1) 44-16 in the paint. She also grabbed 16 rebounds as last season’s CIF-SS Open Division runner-up outrebounded Fairmont Prep 38-28.
Sierra Canyon forward Payton Montgomery, a junior who transferred from Chaminade, came of the bench to score 15 of her 17 points in the first half and added 13 rebounds.
The Trailblazers also sizzled from the beyond the 3-point arc by making 9 of 16 attempts (56 percent), including one to beat the first-half buzzer for a 53-30 lead.
On defense, they held high-scoring junior Adyra Rajan to 3 of 11 shooting from the floor, including 2 of 9 from beyond the arc.
The Huskies made 10 of 27 3-pointers (37 percent).
So what will Fairmont Prep focus on going forward?
“Physicality,” Lozano said. “A lot of people know Adyra is going to be a premier player so they’re going to guard her (tightly) like that.”
“We have to work on getting her open,” the coach added. “We got to be in better shape. We have a slim roster.”
Sophomore guard Kayla Priest was a bright spot for Fairmont Prep with 20 points, which matched her career-high. She sank 4 for 5 3-pointers and had six rebounds and three steals.
Post Sarah Aldeguer added 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Maria Mejia showed her well-rounded game with 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
“No matter what the score was, we’re going to play our way. We’re going play as hard as we can,” Priest said. “We’re blessed to have this opportunity to play such great players. Iron sharpens iron. It makes us all better.”
Sierra Canyon coach Alicia Komaki declined to discuss why Robinson didn’t play but said the highly-rated, 6-foot junior guard will “be back.”
“We have expectations to be a championship program,” the coach said. “We keep our head down and keep working hard and play the right way, and hope that eventually it will get us in position to compete for a championship.”
Fairmont Prep plays in the Troy Classic next week.
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