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Chas Wixon’s hustle and DeWayne Morris’s Kobe-style lay-ups weren’t enough for the Mustangs in Tuesday’s CIF play-off finals against Temescal Canyon. Photos by Ray Vidal |
Temescal Takes out Costa
by Ryan McDonald
Despite a ferocious fourth quarter comeback attempt, which nearly overcame a 14 point deficit, the Mira Costa boys varsity basketball team lost 55-50 to Temescal Canyon team Tuesday night at Fisher Gymnasium.
Mira Costa started the game with nine Chase Wixom-Taylor points in the first quarter. Jacob Insler also contributed to the Mustang’s 16-11 first quarter with a three-point basket. Jeff Kandell nearly made it 19-11 with another three-point shot, but after the clock ran out.
But Temescal Canyon picked up its game in the second quarter, outscoring Costa 13-6. Temescal used a relentless pressure defense, transitioning into a fast break, lay-up offense. Costa lost yet another three-pointer to lack of time, this time to the shot clock. Temescal Canyon led 24-22 at halftime.
Temescal Canyon broke the game open in the third quarter with some spectacular three-point shooting by Kris Maxey. Costa came back, to within three points with a seemingly impossible lay-up by DeWayne Morris. Other Costa baskets came from Archie Wiley IV, and Greg Geier. But Temescal kept it up and lead 47-33 at the end of the third quarter.
But Costa fans packing Fisher Gym refused to accept defeat. Costa started things off with a huge three-pointer by Jacob Insler. A great steal and save by Archie Wiley IV helped lower Temescal’s lead to 6. Two DeWayne Morris baskets in a row brought Costa to within two. The Costa crowd was on its feet and screaming for most of the fourth, but Temescal managed to come up with a 55-50 victory.
"They’re a very good team," said Mira Costa Coach Glenn Marx said of Temescal after the game. "We didn’t make the plays we needed to make. They made the clutch free throws. That’s why they won."
Chase Wixom-Taylor led Costa with nineteen points. Costa finished their season at 17-11.
The Mustangs had advanced to the third round by defeating Damien High 45-43 last Friday. In that game the Mustangs were led by center Chase Wixom, who scored 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in just 16 minutes of playing that was limited by foul trouble.
Mira Costa led all the way until the game was tied 43-43 with 23 seconds to go. That’s when Archie Wiley penetrated into the paint, drew several defenders and dished the rock to Jacob Insler, who hit a jumper to give the Mustangs their final margin of victory. ER