After 19 straight wins to start the high school basketball season, Mira Costa finally faced a team that had proven itself to be the best.
Anaheim Canyon (16-4), led by 6-foot-5 Brandon Benjamin, defeated the Mustangs 77-72 on Saturday at Irvine Valley College.
Benjamin scored 30 points and made four straight free throws in the final minute to maintain the lead. Canyon players went eight-for-eight on free throws in the final 51 seconds. Benjamin was supported by Staff Yilmazturk, who made 11 of 14 shots and finished with 29 points.
Benjamin, who is averaging 30.5 points and is committed to San Diego, has also been effective in finding his teammates for open shots. Noah Kim, who finished with 13 points, contributed two key baskets in the fourth quarter off of Benjamin’s assists.
Inesse Piolini led Mira Costa (19-1) with 25 points, and Jacob de Armas had 20 points.
La Mirada 76, Rancho Cucamonga 64: Gene Roback scored 25 points for La Mirada. Aaron Glass led Rancho Cucamonga with 18 points.
Crane Lutheran 79, Temecula Valley 59: Hunter Kaplan finished with 26 points, making six threes for Crane Lutheran.
Damian 71, San Juan Hills 52: Eli Garner led Damien with 25 points and Elijah Smith had 20 points.
Rolling Hills Prep 64, Christian Village 58: Center Nick Welch Jr. had 14 points to lead five players in double figures for the Huskies 15-6.
Bishop Alemany 63, Vermont Prep 42: Tyler Foyle scored 15 points for the German.
Loyola 68, Beverly Hills 40: Mattai Carter scored 22 points and Quincy Watson added 16 for the Cubs in their first game since three players learned their homes were destroyed in the Palisades Fire.
Downey 64, Firebug 55: Tyler Harris led Downey with 25 points and 11 rebounds.