La Mirada Boys Basketball Dominates Mayfair, Secures League Lead

The La Mirada boys basketball team delivered an impressive performance on Friday night, defeating their rivals, the Mayfair Monsoons, with a score of 74-59. This victory allowed La Mirada to claim sole possession of first place in the Gateway League, marking their twelfth consecutive league win, which dates back to last season.

Strong Preseason Preparation Pays Off

La Mirada’s success is a testament to their challenging nonleague schedule, which included matchups against top teams such as St. John Bosco, Crespi, and Harvard-Westlake. Coach Randy Oronoz emphasized the importance of this rigorous preparation, stating, “We do a good job of scheduling really hard for preseason to try and get prepared for league and the playoffs. It pays off in games like this.”

Junior guard Gene Roebuck led the scoring for La Mirada with a team-high 23 points, showcasing his skills against a heated rival. “Ever since I came to La Mirada, we have never lost to Mayfair,” Roebuck noted. “We take pride in not losing on our home court.”

La Mirada’s backcourt players, Cisco Munoz and King-Riley Owens, each contributed 14 points, helping to create opportunities for Roebuck. Coach Oronoz praised their performance, saying, “Great play from our point guards. Both King and Cisco did a great job. They combined for 28 points and really helped Roebuck.”

Intense Rivalry and Game Dynamics

The first half was marked by an intense back-and-forth battle, with both teams displaying offensive prowess. Munoz initiated La Mirada’s scoring by sinking three 3-pointers in the opening quarter. “We came ready to play, we prepared well,” he said, reflecting on the team’s energetic start. Despite holding the lead for most of the half, La Mirada could only manage a narrow three-point advantage at halftime.

Mayfair’s Josiah Johnson posed a significant challenge to La Mirada’s defense, scoring 16 of his total 24 points in the first half. Coach Oronoz acknowledged Johnson’s talent, stating, “(Josiah) is special. We’re lucky to play a hard nonleague schedule to see athletes like him and be able to adjust to him.”

As the second half unfolded, the scoring pace slowed considerably. La Mirada utilized the momentum of the rivalry, with Coach Oronoz indicating that no major defensive adjustments were necessary. “It’s a rivalry game. So whatever the stats are, whoever is winning, it doesn’t matter. You throw those out, it’s Mayfair vs. La Mirada and then we just play from there.”

In a decisive shift, La Mirada tightened its grip on the lead, limiting Mayfair to just 22 points in the second half. Johnson struggled, managing only one field goal attempt after halftime. For Mayfair, DJ Meekins finished with 15 points, but it was not enough to overcome La Mirada’s strong performance.

Looking ahead, La Mirada will host Weston Ranch from Stockton on Tuesday as they prepare for one of their final nonleague games of the season. The team’s focus remains on maintaining their strong form as they continue to pursue success in the league.