Despite losing six of its last seven games in the regular season and finishing fourth in the Bay League, Mira Costa is ranked No. 11 in the Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs and got back in the win column defeating Silverado 61-50 in the first round on Friday.
Adam Griese and Dylan Kim each scored 17 points for Mira Costa (17-10) who pulled away after going into halftime tied 29-29. Quenton Jackson added 12 points and Gavin Reagan had 11 points for the Mustangs.
“The playoffs are a new season for us and the boys have a renewed spirit,” Mira Costa head coach Jeff Amaral said. “Our seniors really stepped up after a long road trip. Gavin Reagan had a big game for us and Chris Lebbin, Jason Romero and Quenton Jackson played key roles on defense which shadowed their leading scorer all night.”
Mira Costa will host Mark Keppel (24-4) in the second round on Tuesday and Amaral is confident the Mustangs will compete with a team that is a perennial 20-game winner each season.
“Playing in the Bay League, we’re definitely battle tested,” Amaral said. “Keppel is a senior laden team that is guard oriented. However, I feel a key to winning will be shutting down high-scoring center Bertram Mak.”
In other Division 2AA action, fourth-seeded Lawndale (17-10) eliminated Hemet 74-61 and travels to Kaiser (19-7).
Bay League runner-up Inglewood (17-10) is ranked No. 9 in Division 1AA and defeated Aliso Niguel 62-32 on Friday. Inglewood plays at No. 8 Roosevelt (21-4) on Tuesday.
Peninsula (14-13) earned an at-large bid and is seeded No. 11 in Division 1A. The Panthers beat Alta Loma 66-46 and will play at Beaumont (16-11) in the second round.
In Division 2A, Pioneer League runner-up South Torrance (15-11) fell to fourth-seeded Compton 75-43 on Friday while Torrance (11-16) had its season end with a 69-46 loss at No. 7.
North Torrance (12-14) lost at No. 6 Buena Park 89-82 to open the Division 3AA playoffs on Wednesday.
In Division 3A, Palos Verdes (7-20) earned an at-large berth and defeated No. 9 Wilson/Hacienda Heights 51-49 in the first round. The Sea Kings finished their season with a 52-50 home loss to No. 8 Gabrielino on Friday, Pioneer champion Leuzinger (16-12) is ranked No. 12 and eliminated Artesia 51-44 and No. 6 Bishop Amat 46-43 in the second round. The Olympians host third-seeded Tahquitz (24-4) in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Morningside (18-10) finished third in the Bay League and is seeded seventh in Division 4AA. The Monarchs defeated Atascadero 63-62 and Workman 63-54 on Friday and will travel to No. 3 Chaminade (20-9) on Tuesday.
In Division 4A, El Segundo (9-10) earned an at-large berth and beat No. 15 Malibu 58-51 before falling to second-seeded Campbell-Hall 72-50 in the second round on Friday.
Prep League champion Chadwick (17-8) was seeded No. 11 in Division 5AA and eliminated Sherman Indian 65-27 in the first round. The Dolphins had their season end Friday with a 60-46 loss at No. 7 St. Margaret’s.
In Division 5A, Vistamar (17-6) defeated host San Jacinto Valley Academy 60-52 but was no match for top-seeded Bell-Jeff dropping a road game 86-57.
For bracket, results and times visit cifss.org.
