With only three returning varsity players on his roster, Mira Costa girls basketball John Lapham knew at the beginning of the season his trio of juniors would need to step up in leadership roles and productivity if the Mustangs were to achieve their goals.
Although Mira Costa did not reach their first goal of winning the Bay League championship, the team is in position to claim its second goal of capturing a CIF title.
Allie Navarette scored 19 of her 25 points in the first half to lead Mira Costa to a 47-38 home victory over Burroughs in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1A semifinals.
Top-seeded Mira Costa (22-8) is seeking its first CIF championship in three consecutive final appearances when the Mustangs take on Crescenta Valley (23-9) either Friday or Saturday. Mira Costa fell to rival Redondo in last year’s Division 2AA final and Culver City the previous season.
“I knew Burroughs was going to give us a tough game and, as a leader on the team, I needed to make sure everyone was focused and had their heads in the game,” Navarette said. “Because our team is so inexperienced they have truly impressed me with their hard work and heart. In the end it all comes down to who wants it more and time and time again they have shown everyone that we want this more than anyone.”
Mira Costa’s defense continues to give opponents trouble limiting Burroughs to five points in the fourth quarter after the Indians held a 36-34 lead entering the final frame.
Mira Costa led 13-10 at the end of the first quarter and 26-23 going into halftime before Burroughs rallied to take the lead.
“Burroughs is a very well coached team,” Mira Costa coach John Lapham said. “They had two good 3-point shooters so there was no place for us to relax. We weren’t shooting well but our defense played extremely tough in the second half.”
With Navarette double-teamed, her teammates stepped up as Mira Costa outscored Burroughs 13-5 in the fourth quarter to pull away.
Lapham has been impressed with the players, including three sophomores, who made the move up from last year’s junior varsity squad. He feels his team’s defense is better than last year’s CIF runner-up squad.
“Kelli Toyooka has become a spectacular defender,” Lapham said. “She’s also hit some key shots for us which is a bonus we don’t expect. Haley Herdman has also had a strong season and Kira Escovar continues to improve dramatically.”
Escovar hit a 20-footer against Burroughs to give Mira Costa the lead in the fourth quarter. Lapham also credits juniors Mia Finney and Lauren Matoska for helping the Mustangs reach the finals.
The CIF championship game will mark the third straight for juniors Halle Maeda and Navarette and second for Laura Sheckter.
“Halle and I have worked so hard for the past three years and I know her like the back of my hand,” Navarette said. “We are best friends and I know her style of play so well that I feel no one will be able to beat the both of us because we are truly in this together.”
In its semifinal game, Crescenta Valley was outscored 12-3 in the fourth quarter but held on for a 42-38 win against Chino Hills.
Polin Megerdichian led the Falcons with 13 points and five rebounds. Returning all-area players Alisa Shinn (11 points) and Josie Brick (seven points) also played key roles in the win.
“Any team that makes it to the championship is bound to be a tough team,” Navarette added. “But there is only one game that stands between our team winning a ring and this year is our year.”
Lapham said Crescenta Valley is on a roll after upsetting second-seeded Huntington Beach in the quarterfinals.
“Shinn is a very good post player and mobile at 6-foot-3,” Lapham said. “I think you can throw the seeds away. We were No. 8 two years ago and came close to beating Culver City in the championship so you can’t count anyone out.”
Brackets and results are available at cifs.org.
