MiraCosta Edges Palo Verde in Hard-Fought Battle at Harry West Gym

San Diego, CA – November 21, 2024

The MiraCosta Spartans secured a thrilling 70-63 victory over the Palo Verde Yellow Jackets in an intense matchup at Harry West Gym, improving their record to 2-1 on the season while Palo Verde fell to 0-6.

Game Summary

MiraCosta jumped out to an early lead, finishing the first quarter ahead 16-9, thanks to a strong defensive presence that forced multiple Palo Verde turnovers. The second quarter saw MiraCosta extend their advantage with a 25-point surge, taking a 41-27 lead into halftime.

Palo Verde fought back in the second half, dominating the fourth quarter with a 24-15 run, but MiraCosta's early advantage proved too much to overcome.

Standout Performances

  • MiraCosta's Walker-Brown led all scorers with 18 points, adding 7 assists and 8 steals, demonstrating her two-way dominance.
  • Faith Behrendt contributed 14 points and 8 rebounds while also tallying 4 steals to help MiraCosta maintain control.
  • Palo Verde's Kylie Benale had a strong showing with 13 points, including two three-pointers, while Briana Roanhorse nearly recorded a double-double with 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
  • Johanna Garcia was an all-around presence for Palo Verde, scoring 11 points and pulling down 8 rebounds despite turning the ball over 12 times.

Key Team Stats

  • MiraCosta outshot Palo Verde from the field, hitting 42.3% of their shots compared to Palo Verde's 34.8%.
  • Three-point shooting was a struggle for both teams, with MiraCosta going 0-for-8 while Palo Verde managed just 4-of-20 (20%).
  • Palo Verde dominated the rebounding battle, securing 51 boards to MiraCosta's 38.
  • MiraCosta capitalized on turnovers, scoring 30 points off Palo Verde's 36 giveaways.
  • Bench scoring played a significant role, with Palo Verde's reserves contributing 27 points compared to MiraCosta's 11.

Turning Point

MiraCosta's second-quarter dominance, where they outscored Palo Verde 25-18 while shooting 66.7% from the field, created a cushion that carried them through the final minutes despite Palo Verde's late push.

Looking Ahead

MiraCosta will look to build on this momentum in their next matchup, while Palo Verde aims to regroup and secure their first win of the season.