Mustangs Bow Out, Losing to Monrovia

Sometimes getting over the hump doesn’t mean reaching the summit.

The Costa Mesa High boys’ basketball team couldn’t get past host Monrovia Wednesday in a Southern Section Division III-AA first-round playoff game won by Monrovia, 62-51.

The game marked the end of a seven-year absence from the playoffs and the Mustangs’ final record of 17-10 was just one victory short of the school record, set in 1966.

Unfortunately for Costa Mesa, Monrovia was playing at a different level. The Rio Hondo League champions will take a 23-2 record into Friday’s second round.

The Wildcats opened the game by bolting to leads of 16-4, 26-11 and 30-15.

But Costa Mesa began chipping away. With four players scoring, including a three-pointer by Ryan Naff and a three-point play by Rick Hatsushi, the visitors scored the final 12 points before halftime to trail 30-27.

Shaun Ferryman hit a short jumper to open the second half, but Costa Mesa got no closer.

Monrovia used 10 free throws to withstand a trio of Mustang three-pointers in the final period and hold on for the victory.

Naff bowed out with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while junior Steve Whittaker also had 11 points.

Hatsushi, whose aggressive penetration lifted his team, had eight points, four assists and four rebounds.

Bryant Markson, a 6-6 sophomore, led Monrovia with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Division V-AA first round:

Burbank Bell-Jeff 70, Brethren Christian 51--Lee Mamaradlo had 19 points, including four three-pointers, nine assists and five steals and Mike Oparah had eight points and 12 rebounds for visiting Brethren Christian (10-17).

Mamaradlo finished his three-year career at Brethren Christian with 980 points, placing him third on the school’s all-time scoring list.

Carlos Arroyo led Bell-Jeff (20-6) with 22 points as the Guards put the game away by outscoring Brethren Christian, 23-9, in the third quarter.

Los Angeles Pacific Hills 95, Fairmont 31--Fairmont fell behind, 25-3, after the first quarter and 45-11 at the half. Mohammad Faal scored eight points and Mike Mount had six for Fairmont (10-14).

Montclair Prep 79, St. Margaret’s 52--Kevin Krouse scored 27 points, including three three-pointers, and Ghanim Marouf had 11 points for host St. Margaret’s (14-10).

Josiah Johnson had 28 points and Andre Freeman had 22 points for Montclair Prep (14-12).

In Division V-A:

Orangewood Academy 85, Tarzana Stoneridge Prep 72--Zach Jones had 17 points and Warren Tamana had 15 to lead host Orangewood Academy (13-9), which plays at Big Pine in the second round on Friday.

Tarbut V’Torah 52, Maricopa 49--Noam Dashti made two free throws with six seconds left to seal the victory for host Tarbut V’Torah.

Freshman Steven Eghbali scored eight points in the fourth quarter for the Lions (19-4).

Tanner Bral had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Matan Abel had 12 points and 17 rebounds for Tarbut V’Torah, which plays West Valley Christian in a second-round game.