ORINDA, CA – It’s not very often the “O Canada” Canadian national anthem graces a high school basketball game in the United States and precedes the Star Spangled Banner, but that’s exactly what happened on Thursday night at Miramonte as the Mats hosted Abbotsford from the suburbs just east of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Miramonte (8-0) jumped out to a 7-0 start but the Canadian girls had some game and actually led 12-10 in the early second quarter before the hosts went on a 14-0 run to take control in what ended up as a 71-43 Matadors victory.
After Miramonte led 27-18 at the half Mats junior sensation Mia Mastrov took charge with 28 of her game high 30 points (four three-pointers) in the second and third quarters before sitting most of the final period when the deal was long sealed. Senior guard Leah Sopak nailed two three-pointers and added 10 points.
Abbotsford was led by senior guard Marin Lenz with 17 points, and the way she looked against a Cal-Hi Sports No. 15 ranked Miramonte, the daughter of Abbotsford Coach Prentice Lenz looks like she can play in college in the United States.
Abbotsford is in the Bay Area to participate once again in the 20th Anniversary West Coast Jamboree where they open in the first round of the Pearl Division on Friday against Sacramento at Granada-Livermore.
Besides being a friendship match-up for the two teams, the game was also a warm-up for a Miramonte team that will be the favorite along with Chaminade-West Hills in the Diamond Division of the Jamboree where the Mats open on Friday with Nevada Damonte Ranch-Sparks at Las Lomas-Walnut Creek.
