Boys basketball: Los Altos tops Mesa

LA HABRA - The Costa Mesa High boys basketball team fell behind and

could never catch up in a 79-73 loss to Los Altos in a consolation

semifinal of the Sonora/Troy Tournament Thursday at Sonora High.

Senior Chad Vakili had 16 of his team-high 18 points after

intermission to help the Mustangs (4-4) trim a 42-34 halftime deficit to

57-55 late in the third quarter.

The Highlanders, however, held Mesa off and closed out the game at the

free-throw line.

Vakili added seven rebounds and six assists.

Mesa senior center Jason Millward collected 12 points and 10 rebounds

off the bench for his best performance of the season.

Danny Krikorian (15) and David Conte (14) also produced offensively,

while Carlos Jaime had eight points and eight boards for the Mustangs,

who had 19 costly turnovers.

Mesa plays the Sonora-Long Beach Wilson loser today at 3 p.m. at

Sonora.

SONORA/TROY TOURNAMENT

Conso semifinals

Los Altos 79, Costa Mesa 73

Score by Quarters

Costa Mesa 13 21 21 18 - 73

Los Altos 22 20 17 20 - 79

Costa Mesa - Conte 14, Krikorian 15, Vakili 18, Clark 2, C Jaime 8,

Stroman 4, Millward 12, Ball 0.

3-pt. goals - Vakili 4, Conte 2, Krikorian 2.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.

Los Altos - Mergoni 2, Barnes 13, Phillips 20, Garcia 21, Royce 23.

3-pt. goals - Phillips 1, Garcia 2, Barnes 5.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.