Mira Costa girls basketball coach John Lapham knows the importance of having a strong defense in making a strong run for a CIF title.
His Mustang squad is capitalizing on his philosophy advancing to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1A semifinals with a 47-33 home win against Diamond Bar Wednesday night.
“We need to be aggressive the rest of the way and box out a little better but we continue to improve in that area,” Lapham said. “I’m really feeling good about our defense. The last two weeks we’ve stepped up our defense so I really like our chances of winning a title but the final three games will be very tough.”
Despite the defensive pressure that kept Diamond Bar from getting inside, the Brahmas kept the game close for three quarters.
But Mira Costa, who was facing a team with more size than its first two playoff opponents, increased its lead in the fourth quarter
Allie Navarette scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds while Halle Maeda added 11 points.
Top-seeded Mira Costa (21-8) will host Burroughs/Burbank (24-7 in the semifinals on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Burroughs upset fourth-seeded Valley View 43-40 in its quarterfinal contest.
Mira Costa reached the 2015 Division 2AA championship game falling to rival Redondo. Lapham believes that big-game experience has helped his three returners from last year’s team lead the younger players knowing as the top seed, Mira Costa has a bullseye on its back.
“We have two juniors (Navarette and Maeda) that have 17 playoff games under their belts which is a big plus,” Lapham said. “Two years ago we beat top-ranked Cajon at their gym. It was a very exciting and memorable bus ride home and I don’t want to give other teams that same feeling.”
Chino Hills (21-7) and Crescenta Velley (22-9), 51-50 victors over second-seeded Huntington Beach, will face off in the other semifinal game.
In an all-South Bay Division 1AA semifinal, Redondo (21-8) will play at West Torrance (24-6).
Redondo eliminated Culver City 71-30 behind Kyra Hamlin’s 15-point, seven-rebound performance.
Micaela Enriquez added 12 points and seven rebounds and Daylan Bonner contributed nine points for the Sea Hawks.
West rallied from a 15-0 first-quarter deficit to upset second-seeded Valencia/Valencia 42-41 on the road.
The Warriors scored 10 unanswered points to start the fourth quarter outscoring the Vikings 17-9 in the final frame to preserve the victory.
Haley Jones recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds for West.
Top-seeded Ventura (20-9) will play Orangewood Academy (22-7) in the other semifinal contest.
Brackets and results are available at cifss.org.
