Mira Costa 58 Banning 51

Junior guard Shane Willis scored 26 points and senior forward Frank Zeno added 14 to spark the Mustangs to a hard-fought win over Banning.

The efforts of Willis and Zeno offset a brilliant performance by Banning junior guard Jason Pickett, who finished with 28 points including 14 in the third quarter.

The win improved Mira Costa to 2-0, while Banning slipped to 1-1.

“Obviously, Banning’s a very good team and their players are excellent,” Mira Costa Coach Glenn Marx said. “Pickett showed why he’s a good player, and we had to do a lot to try and defend him.”

Banning never led in the game although the teams were tied three times in the fourth quarter.

The Pilots trailed, 29-22, at the half before mounting a comeback behind Pickett, whose three-point basket from midcourt at the buzzer made it 44-42 at the end of three quarters.

Mira Costa went ahead to stay, 50-48, on a basket by Zeno with 4:55 remaining.

The Mustangs held off Banning down the stretch with a stubborn defense, which held the Pilots scoreless in the final four minutes.

“I think what won it was our board work from John Murphy and Phil Fonua at the end of the game,” Marx said.

Marx also credited the play of Willis.

“I don’t think he got a lot of breaks tonight but he showed he’s a warrior,” Marx said. “He had a great effort.”