LA MIRADA – Last year, Savanna made it to the second round of the boys basketball playoffs for the first time in over 20 years.
This year the Rebels made it to the third round.
That is where the Rebels’ season came to a bitter end Friday night as La Mirada rolled to a 77-47 victory in the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division 2A playoffs.
La Mirada’s size was just too much for Savanna (12-20). The Matadores (26-4), who face Compton in Tuesday’s semifinals, scored over 40 points inside the paint and held Savanna to 34 percent shooting from the field.
“It’s tough to find the open man when every time you set a screen for somebody a 6-7 (player) is flashing out at you,” Rebels coach John Konrad said, noting the size advantage of the Matadores. “A lot of credit to their defensive intensity.”
Savanna senior Michael Enis fought for every basket he got on his way to a team-high 15 points. His aggressiveness attacking the basket was constant, but so was the defensive presence of La Mirada’s big men.
“He knows he’s not going to be the biggest guy out there; he goes up against the giants and just has no fear,” Konrad said of Enis. “I love the way he plays with such intensity and such heart and it’s inspiring to watch.”
The visiting Savanna crowd cheered until the end despite the discrepancy in the score.
“It means so much for these young men to have people who truly have their back,” Konrad said.
Savanna senior Kyle Davis added 12 points, while juniors Mark Butler and Abraham Mansaray scored 8 and 6, respectively.
“The last two weeks have been pretty special. It’s been fun for the whole school,” Konrad said. “This is new territory for us, so I’m hoping the young kids see it and they want more.”
