NEW ROLES FOR MATADORS

SPRING VALLEY

With one decision, Zanna Hurst’s freshman basketball

Mount Miguel 63, Torrey Pines 59

season at Mount Miguel High changed forever.

When Matadors standout Sylena Peterson transferred to Bonita Vista, everyone’s role on her old club changed.

No one’s job changed more than Hurst’s. But the 5-foot-9 point guard has adjusted so well that she posted her best scoring game Friday to lead the host Matadors to a 63-59 win over Torrey Pines in an NCAA West Division pool play game of the annual Socal Holiday Prep Classic.

In today’s final day of pool play, Mount Miguel hosts Fremont Mission San Jose at 5 p.m. while Torrey Pines takes on Las Vegas Shadow Ridge at 8 p.m. at West Hills High.

Hurst topped Mount Miguel with 23 points and four rebounds, including nine points in the fourth quarter.

That’s when the Matadors (8-4) outscored Torrey Pines 21-14 to erase a 45-42 deficit at the end of the third period.

“I didn’t think I’d be relied on so much,” Hurst said. “It

Scores and schedules for the Socal Holiday Prep Classic are at socalholidayprepclassic.com

definitely made me train harder and play harder.”

The Matadors, who have three freshmen, two sophomores and no seniors, trailed 42-32 with 3:08 left in the third quarter.

“The game almost got away from us,” Hurst said. “We just had to stay with it.”

Torrey Pines (6-4) helped with 22 turnovers in the game compared to just four by Mount Miguel.

The Matadors helped their own cause with nine 3pointers, led by Hurst’s five.

Torrey Pines got 21 points and 11 rebounds from Izzy Ascencio, but the Falcons failed to hit any 3s.

“We’re still learning how to play together as a team,” said Mount Miguel coach Robbie Sandoval.

But the Matadors are learning quickly.

Monahan is a freelance writer.