Historic triumph

Chris Yemma

For one half of one basketball game, Scott Knox was elevated to

superhuman status.

And after one game, the Costa Mesa High boys basketball team

notched a mark in the school’s history.

The Mustangs won their first postseason game in 42 years with a

65-50 victory over visiting Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks in a CIF

Southern Section Division III-A second-round playoff game Friday

night.

At times, it seemed as if the Mustangs (18-9) were composed of a

five-man track team who also could shoot a basketball. And at times,

it seemed as if Knox, a junior, couldn’t miss a shot from downtown if

he tried.

Knox opened the game going 4 for 4, draining three three-pointers

and a deuce, while adding another three-pointer in the second quarter

on his way to 16 first-half points. He added seven more in the fourth

quarter to finish with 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting.

“Scott’s been struggling as of late with his shot,” Mesa Coach

Ryan Schachter said. “He came through in a big way for us [Friday

night]. It was a breakout game for him.”

Mesa opened the game with a 23-10 first-quarter advantage with two

more threes from Tony Krikorian. Schachter said has only seen his

team open in this fashion one other time.

“Ocean View,” he said, referring to a 70-63 Jan. 12 victory over

the Golden West League rival.

“We went up 17-0 on Ocean View. But it’s better now. It’s good to

have a breakout game [in the postseason].”

Seventh-seeded Costa Mesa, which had a bye in the first round,

made its way into the postseason at the helm of first-year coach

Schachter. And after Mesa struggled for 42 years, the 2004-2005

Mustangs made the final push to get the win.

But it’s no wonder why the Mustangs accomplished the feat.

Four of five Mesa starters scored in double figures. Mesa

outrebounded the Knights, 28-22, and the Mustangs made 10

three-pointers to Notre Dame’s one.

“We’re hoping to keep shooting like that,” Knox said. “We need to

play our pressure [defense] and we’ll be good.”

Knox, who drained 10 three-pointers in a game against Santa Ana

last season, said he has been a little cold lately. In Friday’s first

quarter, he was anything but.

Mesa plays top-seeded Compton Centennial in the quarterfinals

Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. with the site to be determined by a coin flip.

CIF Division III-A

Second round

Costa Mesa 65,

Notre Dame Sherman Oaks 50

Score by Quarters

*--*

Notre Dame 10 12 17 11 -- 50

Costa Mesa 23 17 12 13 -- 65

*--*

Notre Dame -- DiVincenzo 9, M. Fistrovic 6, C. DiVincenzo 12,

Naylor 9, Fisher 7, Tsuda 1, Thomas 4, Gallucci 2.

3-pt. goals -- Fisher 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Mesa -- Molina 10, Sc. Knox 23, Krikorian 11, Waldron 4, Aleson

10, Wase 0, Puente 7, French 0.

3-pt. goals -- Sc. Knox 5, Molina 2, Krikorian 3.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.