Sylmar eager to resume control of Valley Mission League

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Coach Bort Escoto hopes his Valley Mission League opponents dismiss Sylmar’s 8-7, 1-0 record and discount the Spartan’s ability to repeat as boys’ basketball champions.

He hopes those same opponents think the on-court losses to View Park, Dorsey, Mayfair and Simi Valley -- or the off-court losses of Victor Rudd, Guy Landry and brothers WIllie and Matt Hankins, who transferred out of the program -- have left Sylmar deflated and vulnerable.

‘We have something to prove,’ said Escoto, as Sylmar prepares to play at San Fernando (3-8, 0-1) on Friday. ‘I’m sure there are teams out there that think this is their opportunity to win the league. We want to prove them wrong. We want to show the league [title] still goes through Sylmar.’

-- Mike Terry