MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Pasadena) – Maranatha jumped out to a 14-4 lead to open the game and made it stand up the rest of the way in a 77-57 win over Mira Mesa Saturday night in the CIF Division III Regional Semi-Finals.

The Minutemen had three players in double figures with Harrison Harper leading the way with 19.

Maranatha led 24-10 after the first quarter as Chris Smith scored seven points and Harper and George Pamilton each had six.

Mira Mesa cut into the lead in the second quarter behind the hot shooting of Diego Ortiz who lit it up for 13 points in the quarter including two three-pointers. Ortiz had 19 in the first half as he hit four threes overall.

Maranatha still led by eight at the break and extended it to 13 at the end of three at 55-42. Harper did some of his best work down in the paint as he scored another seven in the third quarter.

The Minutemen were able to put the game away in the fourth quarter and eventually win by 20. The defense put the clamps down on Mira Mesa and the offense continued to click.

Smith had seven points in the fourth quarter and finished with 18. Pamilton, who was filling in for the injured Bryan Lopez-Wood was also in doubles with 16.

“It’s next man up. He had to step in for the starting point guard Lopez-Wood, who was injured and he did a great job,” said Maranatha head coach Tim Tucker.

Giacomo Manzella and Bryce Matthews added eights points each for Maranatha.

For Mira Mesa Ortiz was held to two points in the second half and finished with 21 to lead the team. Cole Soriano had 10 and Che Lesperance added nine. Mira Mesa finished the season with an overall record of 28-7.

Maranatha, now 17-17, will play San Gabriel Academy in the Division III State Regional Finals Tuesday night.

“God is good. This is the first time in school history Maranatha will be in the State Regional Finals. Everybody thought we were done. We were 4-13 at one point,” Tucker said. “They were throwing dirt on us. But I kept telling the team to keep working and now we are seeing how good we can actually be.”

MM 10 22 10 15 57

MA 24 16 15 22 77