After downing Victor Valley and Sunny Hills in the first two rounds, Temecula Valley Golden Bears varsity basketball team (16-14) lost 70-47 in CIF–SS Division 2AA Quarterfinals to the #5-seed Mira Costa Mustangs (20-9).

"We’re playing well at the right time of the season," said Mustang Coach Jeff Amaral. "This was a tremendous effort tonight to beat a very good team."

"We started slow and we weren’t getting any open perimeter shots," said Temecula Valley Head Coach Kyle Armstrong. The Golden Bears only hit two field goals as the Mustangs jumped out to a 19-7 first quarter lead. "We got caught defensively and they made no mistakes."

The Mustangs continued their dominance into the second quarter, ending the first half with a 15-5 lead in field goals and a 37-16 lead on the scoreboard. The Golden Bears missed 20 shots in the half. Brandon Rosser was Temecula Valley’s leading scorer with only two field goals and three free throws at the break. Rosser had been leading Division 2AA in CIF-SS playoffs in scoring (24.0 points per game) and blocks (3.0 per game); he was also fourth in rebounds (9.5).

The Golden Bears battled to a 15-17 third quarter and a 16-16 fourth quarter but were unable to stop the Mustangs’ four-year veteran point guard, Cole Feaster, whom Armstrong says "has a tremendously high basketball IQ."

Feaster penetrated the defense at will and ended with 24 points and nine assists. The Mustangs also dominated on the boards with 43 rebounds. Temecula Valley missed twelve straight 3-point attempts until Marco Ovies hit their only one in the final period.

Senior TVHS guard Michael Price scored nine of his 11 points in the second half. Rosser ended with 17 points.

"They were a tough team," said Rosser, "but our shots weren’t falling and we couldn’t find any rhythm."

Rosser has had to come back two years in a row from injuries to help his team in playoffs.

"It’s tough for us seniors since we never won league or anything," said Rosser.

"Despite our team’s disappointment tonight, this is the first team in nine years to reach quarterfinals," Temecula Valley Athletic Director Steve Rapaport stated proudly.