By Sean Mcdonald
Staff Writer
Close, but not close enough.
Mira Costa’s boys basketball team‘s game against Inglewood High on Tuesday was one of its closest games this season. In the end, the team was unable to gain the upper hand, losing 55-47 to the Sentinels, a team ranked number 28 in California.
“Inglewood is a very tough team. They are very athletic and hard to break down,” sophomore guard Bobby Barkley said. “We fought hard until the end of the game, though, and that is what really matters to us.”
The first quarter was a complete defensive showdown as both the Mustangs and the Sentinels were unable to make their open shots, ending 9-6 Inglewood. Costa’s six points came from senior point guard Johny Mims and senior center Tyler Morgan.
“The beginning was tough because of their size and strength,” junior guard Ryan White said. “We were really struggling to finish when we had scoring opportunities, but on the other hand, so were they.”
During the second quarter, there was a shift in momentum resulting from a string of three pointers by sophomore guard Morgan Clark, junior forward Jonas Pittman and senior forward Nick Rangel. The Sentinels quickly responded to the Mustangs’ threes by nailing more of Costa, 25-23, at halftime.
“We were beginning to execute our offensive game plan,” Pittman said. “We are at our best when we hone in our shooting skills and play extemely aggressive on offense.”
The third quarter was a reversal of roles, with Inglewood getting a burst of energy and hitting its long-range shots. The Mustangs did their best to keep up, but the Sentinels gradually continued to gain the upper hand. The third finished 40-35 in favor of Inglewood.
“We did a better job of sticking to our plan in the first half,” White said. “Their shots started to fall, and we were mostly on the defensive.”
The fourth quarter provided quite the energetic finish, as both teams drained shots right and left. In the end, Inglewood had the advantage in terms of rebounding and three-point shooting. Mims ended the game with a season-high 19 points.
“I just tried to set up my teammates and be a leader on the court,” Mims said. “I drove to the rim and found success.”
Mira Costa is now 12-8 overall and 2-1 in Bay League. The team’s next game is today at Morningside High School. According to coach Jeff Amaral, he wants the same intensity from Tuesday in tonight’s game.
“Morningside is a little different than Inglewood because of their physicality,” Amaral said. “As long as we execute the simple parts of the game and compete at our best, we will have a strong chance at winning.”
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