Mira Costa’s girls basketball team moved into a first-place tie with Redondo after a strong defense allowed the Mustangs to pull off a 42-36 come-from-behind home win in front of a packed house at Fisher Gym.
Redondo held the lead for most of the first half before Mira Costa forward Alexa Underwood’s basket tied the game 23-23 going into halftime.
The tenacious Mustang defense allowed the team to hang around before Mira Costa outscored its rival 15-5 in the fourth quarter to not only hand Redondo (14-6, 4-1) its first league loss of the season, but defeat the top ranked team in CIF-SS Division 2AA. Mira Costa (16-4, 4-1) entered the game ranked No. 3.
“We played very good defense,” Mira Costa head coach John Lapham said. “I thought it was one of our best efforts of the year. I thought our zone – and I don’t like playing zones – was effective. We don’t have the size to match up with Redondo so we went to a different kind of defense and I though we executed very well. Redondo is an incredibly good team and any time we can stay on the same court as them, we feel like we’re lucky and playing well.”
The physically-played game included numerous tie ups as players fought for possession of the ball.
“Our kids are aggressive and not afraid,” Lapham said. “Redondo is the same way so every time we play it’s a lot of fun.”
Redondo held a 31-27 lead going into the fourth quarter but Mira Costa pulled ahead when Keilani Ikehara nailed her second 3-pointer of the game to draw the Mustangs even 34-34 with four minutes, thirty seconds remaining. Ikehara finished the game with 13 points.
“I got good setups from teammates and it worked well for us,” Ikehara said. “We knew that after losing to Peninsula we’d have to come back stronger. We had a total team effort. Whether on the court or on the bench, everyone contributed in some way.”
Allie Navarette scored five of her seven points during the fourth-quarter run, Underwood finished with eight points in the win.
Mira Costa kept Redondo’s high-scoring forwards Kyra Hamlin and Ami Nyingifa in check, allowing the duo a combined 14 points.
Mira Costa begins the second round of Bay League action Friday at Palos Verdes. The Mustangs will look to avenge their earlier loss to Peninsula (No. 13, Div. 1A) when they host the Panthers Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Redondo plays at Inglewood on Friday. The Sea Hawks travel for a tough non-league game at Troy (No. 4, Div. 1A) at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The Sea Hawks continue league play on Tuesday hosting Morningside.
