The championship dreams of the boys and girls basketball teams at Mount Miguel High School came to an end last week, as both teams were eliminated from the CIF playoffs.
On the boys side, high scoring senior guard Izzy Wagner was held to just 17 points, as the Matadors fell 67-38 to second-seeded St. Augustine on Saturday. Wagner, who averaged 34 points a game on the year, was one of just six active players for Mount Miguel.
“They are bigger, better and deeper than us,” Matadors coach Jay Rowlett told East County Sports. “We let about four games slip away from us that should have been Ws” for us. But I’m proud of my guys. They played hard tonight against a superior foe.”
St. Augustine was paced by Brynton Lamar, who had a game-high 27 points. He added nine rebounds and four assists.
The loss also brings to an end the career of Wagner, who dazzled all year long with his scoring prowess. Wagner, who led the entire San Diego section in scoring at 34 ppg, scored 39 points or more in 10 games this season, including a 54-point explosion Dec. 15 vs. Hilltop. He was held to less than 27 points in only four of the Matadors 29 games this season. Wagner had 45 points in the Matadors first-round playoff win vs. Del Norte last week.
Wagner also led the Grossmont League in steals per game with 4.3 and free-throw percentage at 87 percent.
Mount Miguel finished the season 16-13.
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The Mount Miguel girls also bowed out of the playoffs last week, with a 57-50 loss to Mission Bay on Friday. The Buccaneers were able to avenge a 66-40 loss at the hands of Mt. Miguel in December.
Senior guard Briteesha Solomon, who will attend San Diego State University in the fall, scored a game-high 23 points for Mission Bay in the win.
"We weren't a team when we first played Mount Miguel, so I understand and have no complaints about our seeding," Bucs coach Norm Guay told East County Sports. "But I now like our chances with a player like Bri."
Kamree Harrison led the Matadors with 19 points. Deijah Blanks had a double-double, with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but struggled from the field, hitting only 2 of her first 12 shots.
Dejanay Pope was a beast on the boards, hauling in 26 rebounds for the Matadors, who finished their season 17-10.
Mount Miguel is expected to compete for a title next year, with only one senior on the roster, Breahna Jones.
Blanks and Pope will return as the senior leaders for 2013-14, with sophomores Harrison, Cierra Conwright, Zaria Branch, and Brooklyn Miller returning as well.
