With a trip to the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division 7 championship on the line, neither the Salesian Mustangs of Los Angeles nor Canyon Cowboys were victorious in regulation.
The game had to be settled in overtime, which not only included multiple lead changs, but also timely shots from both teams.
But for Canyon, the Cowboys playoff run came to an end Friday night after a 61-58 loss at home and they were eliminated from the playoffs.
“I thought our guys left everything on the line, and I’m really proud of them,” Canyon head coach Ali Monfared said. “Didn’t go the way we wanted, but we battled, and that’s all I could ask of them.”
With 1:30 remaining in overtime, the Cowboys took a 57-55 lead after Canyon senior guard Isaac Yuhico made a 3-pointer and was fouled on the play.
After the foul, Yuhico converted the free throw, and the Cowboys took a 58-55 lead and looked poised to win the game.
But after the free throw, it would be the Cowboys’ last point scored for the rest of the game as the Mustangs’ defense prevented Canyon from getting a basket.
Monfared believes his team just ran out of gas and credits Salesian for making plays that the Cowboys couldn’t stop.
“Salesian just found a way to make a couple more plays than us and I’m going to give them credit,” he said. “They made some big shots, some big free throws, and we needed to get a couple more rebounds, and it was a really big-time battle and credit to Salesian and good luck to them in the final.”
In the loss, Yuhico finished the night with 20 points and led the Cowboys in scoring.
After the game, Monfared applauded his senior’s efforts and the performance he displayed on the court despite the defeat.
“He’s been a fantastic leader,” Monfared said. “He’s really led this young team, and I couldn’t be more proud to Coach Isaac and he’s been a fantastic leader for all the years I’ve coached him.”
Another Cowboy who had a big night offensively was senior guard Josiah Toledo.
Toledo recorded 15 points in the loss and was second on the team in scoring and was a reliable option for Monfared throughout the game to make a basket.
With the loss, the Cowboys are eliminated from the Southern Section Division 7 playoffs and will not advance to the championship.
But Canyon’s season is not over yet as the Cowboys are set to play in the CIF state playoffs, scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 3.
Until the state playoffs begin, Monfared is going to let the loss digest but added that his team will be ready to hit the film room and get ready for their next matchup.
“We’ll take some time to digest it,” he said. “And then we’ll get better because our season is not over and then we’ll come back to practice and watch some film and get better.”
