Boys basketball defeats Temecula Valley High School, advances to CIF semi-finals

By Ian Rapoport
Staff Writer

Even when faced with the daunting task of going on the road to compete, the Mustangs stayed ahead and are now going where few have gone before them.

The Mira Costa High School boys varsity basketball team defeated Temecula Valley High School 70-47 away on Friday Feb. 22. The win was the team’s third CIF match and helped advance the Mustangs to the semi-final.

“It was fun, its always a good experience going into a CIF game,” junior forward Justin Strings said. “You get to bond with your team when its on the road and get a great opportunity that most kids don’t get.”

Strings scored 13 points, and seniors point guard Cole Feaster and forward Oliver Mausner scored 24 and 12 points, respectively.

“[Senior guard] Adam Winett came in and gave us a lot of big plays,” Strings said. “Cole Feaster made a lot of good passes and scored an insane amount of baskets.”

The Mustangs took a large lead early on. The first quarter ended with Mira Costa leading over Temecula 19-7.

“I got a dunk first play of the game,” Strings said. “It was all uphill from there for us.”

This lead was maintained heading into the half. Costa made 18 points in the second quarter, while Temecula made only half that. The quarter ended Costa still leading 37-16.

“We kept playing strong and cohesively,” coach Jeff Amaral said. “The players followed the game perfectly.”

Temecula came back stronger after the half and was able to make 15 points. However, the Mustangs maintained constant efficiency and left Temecula far behind going into the final quarter 54-31.

“We all played well together and fought back from adversity to maintain the lead,” Strings said.

Temecula continued to push and scored 16 points in the quarter, as did Costa. Temecula’s efforts as the Mustangs had already gotten far ahead and won the match 70-47 and now heading to semi finals.

“Its a great feeling,” Strings said. “I was told we were the first team in 25 years to make it this far.”

The Mustangs next match will be on Tuesday, Feb. 26 against J.W. North High School, away. A win would send the Mustangs to the CIF championship.

“Everyone wanted to do something that hasn’t been done for a long time at Costa,” Amaral said. “That was getting to CIF semi finals.”