Mira Costa rebounded from its heartbreaking one-point loss to Redondo in the Bay League championship game by running over visiting Rowland 61-42 in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2AA girls basketball playoffs on Saturday.
“The Redondo loss was clearly a tough one for us,” Mira Costa head coach John Lapham said. “We talked about what choices we had going forward: either dwelling on the loss and the circumstances around it, or deciding to make it a motivating factor, as we work to get another chance to play them in the CIF finals, assuming we make it that far.”
Allie Navarette maintained her season-long consistency as the Mustang’s leading scorer, recording 20 points to lead Mira Costa in what Lapham considered a closer game than the score indicated.
Patience Taylor contributed 15 points and grabbed 16 rebounds and Keilani Ikehara added 13 points and seven assists for the Mustangs.
Second-seeded Mira Costa (21-6) will play at West Covina (19-8) in the second round on Tuesday as the Mustangs continue their quest for a return trip to the championship game. Mira Costa fell to Culver City 55-49 in the 2014 Division 2AA final.
“In a tournament where any loss means the end of the season, we will need a great deal of luck to get back to the title game,” Lapham said. “We had that luck last year, and needed it. This team is pretty determined, so I hope we can put ourselves in a position to return.”
Bay League champion Redondo (20-6) is the top seeded team in Division 2AA and earned a first-round bye. The Sea Hawks host Ayala 16-11 in the second round.
The Bay League’s third representative Peninsula (18-9) advances in Division 1A after defeating host Camarillo 51-47 behind Paris Lucci’s 23-point, nine-rebound performance. The Panthers host Paloma Valley (20-7) on Wednesday.
Also in Division 1A, fourth-seeded West Torrance (20-7) routed Oxnard 67-25 and travel to Valencia/Placentia (18-9) on Wednesday.
In Division 2A, third-seeded South Torrance (19-9) defeated Jurupa Hill 69-47 and will host Mayfair (18-9) on Wednesday. Mayfair eliminated Lawndale (18-10) 61-44 in the first round.
Top-seeded North Torrance (24-2) continued to roll in Division 3AA routing host Rancho Alamitos 65-25 in a second-round contest. The Saxons host Esperanza (17-10) in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
In Division 3A, El Segundo (18-10) pulled out a 42-41 win at La Canada and will host top-seeded Orange Lutheran (19-8) in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Third-seeded Bishop Montgomery (15-13) advanced in Division 4AA after eliminating Morro Bay 77-42. The Knights will make the long road trip to Twentynine Palms (21-6) on Wednesday.
All games with the exception of the finals are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. Brackets and results are available at cifss.org.
