Valencia Eliminated by Mira Costa

John Cyrus should have known it wasn’t going to be his day.

First off, the Valencia basketball coach fell off his bicycle and injured his left hand. And Cyrus had to watch as his Tigers (15-8) were eliminated in the first round of the Division II-A playoffs 60-48 by Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (19-7) Friday night at Valencia High School.

“They (Mira Costa) came out and played powerful,” said Cyrus.

Mira Costa scored the first 10 points and led, 16-1, with 3 minutes 43 seconds left in the first quarter. Valencia didn’t score its first field goal until there was 3:10 remaining in the quarter.

“I think we came out too pumped up,” said Cyrus. “We were taking shots that we had shot all year, but they were just not falling.”

The same couldn’t be said for the Mustangs, as they led, 20-5, after one quarter.

Valencia did get as close as five points, 36-31, with 1:51 left in the third quarter, but Mira Costa eventually pulled away.

The Tigers were led in scoring by Mario Aguirre with 11 points. Obdul Reid added 10.

Shane Willis and Frank Zeno scored 16 each for Mira Costa. John Murphy had 10.

Zeno had 11 rebounds and Murphy hit eight of 10 free throws for Mira Costa. Aguirre had nine rebounds for Valencia. Kevin Deck had eight points for Valencia.

Eric Jackley sparked a second-quarter surge with seven points, but he went out of the game with 5:33 left in the fourth quarter with a strained right knee. Valencia cut the lead to 54-46 on consecutive three-point baskets by Bill Eubanks and Deck.