San Diego High School Basketball : Mount Miguel Lives Up to Reputation in Win

The Mount Miguel High School basketball team is finally where the rest of the Grossmont League expected it to be--in first place.

Playing its finest game of the season, Mount Miguel dominated visiting Monte Vista the way most thought it would dominate the league.

The Matadors (11-3, 12-7) moved into first place by routing the Monarchs, 59-41, for their eighth straight victory. Monte Vista (10-3, 12-8) is tied for second with Valhalla.

“We’re playing the way I thought we could play,” said Art Edge, Mount Miguel coach. “The kids are starting to come on.”

Mount Miguel had four returning starters from last year’s team that finished second in the league behind El Capitan. But the Matadors struggled and were 3-3 a third of the way through league. The Matadors’ last loss was to Monte Vista a month ago.

But Tuesday night the Matadors controlled the game, keeping Monte Vista’s offense off-balance.

Mount Miguel’s 6-foot 10-inch center Mike Flores dominated the first period by scoring 8 of the Matadors first 10 points.

With the score tied, 8-8, in the first half, Mount Miguel outscored Monte Vista, 12-2, to take a 20-10 lead.

Leading, 34-25, early in the third quarter, Mount Miguel put the game away by outscoring Monte Vista, 19-4, to take a 53-29 lead with five minutes left.

Gus Lopez scored 18 points, Haywood Mathis 15 and Mike Flores 12 for Mount Miguel. James Gottel scored 12 points and Wayne Hallman added 15 to lead Monte Vista.