Muir Is Model of Resiliency

Pasadena Muir opens the girls’ basketball state playoffs tonight at Oakhurst Yosemite, the Central Section champion, in a Southern California Regional opener.

That Muir is still playing is a testament to the program. Before the playoffs began, the Mustangs (24-6) lost two starters, point guard Joyce Strings and guard Porsha Large, because they were academically ineligible.

Stepping into their place were 5-foot-5 freshman Darixia Morris and 5-1 junior Staci Mitchell. Muir then upset fourth-seeded Torrance Bishop Montgomery and top-seeded Fullerton Rosary.

In the 44-40 loss to second-seeded La Puente Bishop Amat on Saturday in the Southern Section Division III-AA championship game, Morris scored a team-high 10 points and had six rebounds and Mitchell finished with five points and four rebounds.

“We gained rebounds and defense on the floor, and we lost athletic ability and experience,” first-year Coach Joe Ford said of the newcomers.

“Definitely, defense is more important. Defense is going to win the game.””

Muir made only one of its first 31 shots but nearly beat Bishop Amat because it took 64 shots -- making 11 -- compared with the Lancers’ 14-for-48 performance from the field.

Martin Henderson

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Boys’ Basketball

Los Angeles Verbum Dei enters the state playoffs riding a wave of success, and Ramses Barden of La Canada Flintridge Prep understands how opponents feel when facing the small-school powerhouse after a 73-48 loss to the Eagles in the Southern Section Division IV-A title game on Thursday at Loyola Marymount.

“I felt like we were playing Duke,” Barden said. “You know they’re beatable, but you can’t afford to make any mistakes.”

Barden, who missed 11 of 14 shots and scored 10 points, was less than complimentary toward his own team.

“I just had the sense that some of our players were already satisfied just being here,” he said.

The Rebels (19-9) will have another chance tonight, when they travel to San Diego Horizon, the San Diego Section’s Division IV champion, for a first-round game.

Verbum Dei, which plays host to La Jolla The Bishop’s, the San Diego Section’s Division IV runner-up, tonight, took its lumps early in the season, falling to 8-7 after losing by 26 points to Orange Lutheran in the Nike Extravaganza at Loyola Marymount on Jan. 24.

After helping Mission Viejo win the program’s first section title Saturday at the Arrowhead Pond in the Division I-A final against Huntington Beach Marina, senior forward Jed Collins said he hoped his basketball-playing days are far from over.

Collins, who has a scholarship to play football at Washington State, said he also plans to walk on with the Cougar basketball team.

“I haven’t told the coaches yet, but it’s something I’ll definitely pursue,” said Collins, a 6-3, 235-pound linebacker ... and forward.

Collins and the Diablos have at least one more game tonight, when they travel to Woodland Hills Taft (27-2) to play the City Section champion.

Dan Arritt

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Boys’ Golf

Senior David Lieberman of Palm Springs shot a Desert Valley League-record seven-under-par 29 at Desert Willow Golf Resort on Monday, but it wasn’t enough for the Indians, who fell, 182-184, to Palm Desert.

Junior Seann Harlingten shot a 35, and senior Aaron Davis and junior Ross Canavan each shot par for Palm Desert (3-1, 1-0). Palm Springs is 3-1, 0-1.

-- Amelia Neufeld