The two adversaries met for a third time this season due to three teams being tied for second place at 4-4 in league play after Wednesday.
A day later, Costa Mesa (10-15, 5-4 in league) left Estancia and Calvary Chapel to fight for the league’s third and final postseason berth tonight at Corona del Mar at 7.
The Mustangs are heading to the CIF Southern Section Division IV-A playoffs after winning one game last season.
Who would’ve thought this was possible after the Mustangs last season suffered the program’s worst season in school history?
Mikey Molina believed. The senior delivered down the stretch, allowing Costa Mesa to fulfill its goal of reaching the postseason.
Molina scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, getting his opportunity to seal the Mustangs’ fate. In the final 24 seconds, with Estancia trailing by one point and later two points, Molina attempted two sets of free throws, coming on one-and-one situations.
From the sideline, first-year coach Bryan Rice kept saying, “Ice it Mikey” when the Eagles fouled his guard.
Molina was clutch. He went four for four from the free-throw line. There was no way he was going to miss.
This was Molina’s last chance to return to the playoffs.
“Coming from a one-win season last year, [this] just shows how much we’ve improved this year as a team,” Molina said. “You never know what a year can bring you. It brought us back to the CIF [playoffs].”
Estancia, last season’s runner-up, will try to join Costa Mesa in the postseason.
The Eagles (4-5 in league) will have to beat Calvary Chapel for the second time in three nights. A tough task is ahead tonight.
