A victory cigar would be sweet for Mira Costa girls’ basketball coach

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I always place a phone call at the worst moment. Ask my sister, whom I once called just as she went into labor with my nephew.

‘I’m gonna have to call you back,’ she said.

‘Why?’ I asked.

‘I’m giving birth!’

Click.

Tonight, when I phoned Don Braunecker, he said: ‘You know, Tony, you’re interrupting my cigar.’

But Braunecker -- the good-guy coach of Mira Costa girls’ basketball -- never hung up as he gabbed about a dreamy possibility in the Southern Section Division I-A playoffs: another grudge match with Redondo.

Earlier this season, the Mustangs wiped out the Sea Hawks, who then exacted some vengeance a couple weeks later. A third showdown would be... well, let Braunecker tell you.

‘Sweet,’ he said. ‘We’d love a rubber match. It would be a great ending.’

First, Mira Costa hosts Canyon Country Canyon on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the opening round while Redondo hosts Norwalk.

Now enjoy that cigar, Coach.

-- Anthony Stitt

-- Image from http://www.l2si.speculist.com