Boys basketball: Mesa nearly goes 3 for 3

LONG BEACH - It was the capper to, arguably, the biggest week in

their program’s history and the Costa Mesa High boys basketball team

seemed determined not to let it end.

But, even though it took overtime, St. John Bosco rallied to beat the

Mustangs, 63-60, in Saturday’s Nike Extravangza VI at Long Beach State’s

Pyramid.

Costa Mesa senior center Mike Payne had 14 points, 14 rebounds and

nine blocked shots, while Chad Vakili (15 points), Nolan Clark (11) and

David Conte (10) were also in double figures for the Mustangs.

The Braves (17-5), down 51-43 with 3:46 left in the fourth quarter,

reeled off a 9-0 run the next 82 seconds to help forge a 54-54 tie to

force an overtime.

Clark’s layin put Mesa on top 48 seconds into the four-minute overtime

period, but a pair of three-pointers helped St. John Bosco earn the

hard-fought victory.

“It was a well-played game by both teams,” Costa Mesa Coach Bob Serven

said.

Costa Mesa nearly banked in a 35-footer at the regulation buzzer and

the Mustangs (14-8) missed four three-pointers in overtime, including one

with two seconds left that would have tied it.

It would have been the third big victory of the week for Mesa, which

posted historic triumphs over Pacific Coast League rivals Corona del Mar

(Wednesday) and Estancia (Friday).

Junior Gio St. Amant led the Braves with 32 points and 13 rebounds.

NIKE EXTRAVAGANZA VI

St. John Bosco 63, Costa Mesa 60 OT

Score by periods

Costa Mesa 7 17 15 15 6 - 60

St. John Bosco 9 14 13 18 9 - 63

Costa Mesa - Vakili 15, Payne 14, Clark 11, Conti 10, Whittaker 7, Krikorian 3, Gandia 0, Millward 0, Cabico 0, Fregoso 0.

3-pt. goals - Conti 2, Vakili 2, Whittaker 1, Krikorian 1, Clark 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.

St. John Bosco - St. Amant 32, Lane 10, Cape 8, Taylor 4, Reynaga 4,

Quiroz 3, Dyer 2.

3-pt. goals - Lane 2, Quiroz 1, Reynaga 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.