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The Centurions (10-17) shot just 27 percent from the floor and the Matadores (25-3) used their superior size and transition game to pull away.
“We played hard,” said Saugus head coach Derek Ballard. “We just didn’t make shots, and we had to shoot well in order to stay in the game with them.”
La Mirada out-rebounded Saugus 50-20 and scored on putbacks with regularity. Saugus’ struggles boxing out have been prevalent during a nine-game losing streak to close the season.
Still, the Centurions rebounded from the loss of a big senior class in Ballard’s first year, and he credits his 2009 seniors.
“We have the seniors this year that were the right guys to have to move in the right direction,” he said. “We will win a championship soon, and when we do, our current seniors will be part of that celebration.”
Joey Frederick led the Centurions with 15 points, while Miles Orr added 12.
Orr is part of the senior class that includes Mark Watanabe, Noel Mansour, Jake Birkland, Chris Gatewood and Desi Rodriguez.
“It’s hard to win a championship in one year,” Ballard said. “The program is moving in the right direction.”
jgulino@the-signal.com
