The #6 Murrieta Valley Nighthawks came up short in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinals to Lamont Tyler and the #3-seed Villa Park Spartans (23-6), 66-61. Tyler, the 6’ 10" center for the Spartans ended the night with 12 rebounds, five blocks and 25 points, including the Spartans’ final five points in the last two minutes.

The Nighthawks (21-8) started out behind 20-13 and kept clawing away at the lead for three quarters. A fourth quarter rally, from behind 50-43, gave them a lead 52-50 and then 56-54, with three-and-a-half minutes left. Junior guard Kevin Padlo scored 11 of his 22 points in the comeback effort, but poor free-throw shooting (8/18), missed shots in the final minutes, a Spartans’ layup, jumpshot and a 3-pointer, and no answer for Tyler, sealed the Nighthawks’ fate. Padlo also had eight rebounds and three steals.

Mitchell Lenhart had 13 points and 6 assists; Tyler Bilton had eight points and eight rebounds; Thomas Alexandre added nine points.

Murrieta Valley’s junior-laden squad surprised many, equaling last year’s team’s playoff finish and serving as notice to next year’s competitors.