Wyatt Robb
Staff Writer
For Mira Costa’s girls basketball team, three times was not a charm.
In a game that came down to final free throws, the Mustangs were defeated 37-36 by Crescenta Valley High School in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) division 1A finals Saturday. This is the third year in a row that the team has lost in the championship.
With only 0.6 seconds left in the game, junior guard Halle Maeda was fouled on a three pointer. The Mustangs needed two free throws to tie, and all three to win. Maeda made the first, missed the second, and just barely missed the third, ending the game with a loss for the Mustangs.
“In the locker room after the game, the whole team was just in disbelief,” junior forward Mia Finney said. “We were completely shocked by the how the game ended.”
Despite their loss, the Mustangs got off to a strong start in the first quarter, ending it 9-4. However, the team was outscored by the end of the second quarter and lost their lead, ending the first half 21-14.
“I think the game should have fallen more in our favor,” sophomore guard Haley Herdman said. “We played well in that first quarter, but we allowed them to go on a 15 point run in the second, which really hurt us.”
Going into the fourth quarter, it seemed like the Falcons had the game locked up; Crescenta Valley led Costa 32-24. However, the Mustangs clawed their way back, reducing Crescenta’s lead to only 2 points. Unfortunately for Costa, this effort would end up not being enough for a victory.
“Even though we lost, it was a really great game,” Herdman said. “I am very proud of my team for making it this far.”
For most of the game, Costa was outmatched on defense. Crescenta Valley used its height advantage and worked the ball in low to tall scorers. On offense, the Mustangs had trouble finishing at the rim and making open jump shots. These disadvantages made it tough for Costa to gain and hold a lead.
“We probably should have changed up our positioning on defense,” Finney said. “That way, we could have done a better job boxing out their tall players.”
Even though the 22-9 overall Mustangs came up just short for the third year in a row, they will get another chance to bring home a first place trophy, in a playoff bid for the state tournament that begins Wednesday.
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