The Mission Prep girls volleyball team survived a five-set thriller on Wednesday night against Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo. After losing the first set, the Royals stormed back to take three of the final four sets and win the match. 

Coach Jessie Holder’s Royals are now 1-1 on the young season and play next at Pioneer Valley tonight (Thursday). The varsity match is scheduled to begin at 6pm. 

Photos by Owen Main. For all the photos from the JV and Varsity games, click here.

On Friday night, Kyle Colvin dropped 19 points and Carter Gran added 14 and Mission Prep held-on late to beat Arroyo Grande in San Luis Obispo.

One thing that always strikes me about Arroyo Grande is how they play together. The Eagles almost always pass-up an OK shot for a really good shot. On this night, Mission did the same at home and finished with the victory.

Photos by Owen Main. To view all photos click here

Atascadero beat Righetti to move to 2-0 and Paso Robles downed San Luis Obispo, dropping the Tigers to 0-2 in the young league season.

Terrance Harris (right) has won over 200 games at Mission Prep. By Owen Main

Terrance Harris. At the age of 17, he was a one-man press break for Mission Prep. With his older brother Darnell his his head coach, Terrance led the Royals He’s still one of the fastest high school basketball players I’ve ever seen with that ball. Whether they played their home games at St. Patrick’s in Arroyo Grande or at Mott Gym, Terrance always made the Royals dangerous as a player.

As an aside, Terrance would have been a damn good football wide receiver or running back had he continued that sport and his defensive ability as a center fielder in the Mission outfield was pretty solid as well.

Fast-forward 16 or 17 years. Last Wednesday, Harris won his 200th game as the Royals’ head coach and Mission Prep continues to be the class of San Luis Obispo County high school basketball. On Friday night, MCP honored Harris with a pregame ceremony.

After a slow start to the game Friday against Atascadero, Harris’ Royals jumped in front and stayed there, winning 68-53. Kyle Colvin, Kyle Stewart, and Max Basile all had solid games for Mission, which stayed within striking distance of the Pac-8’s first-place team, St. Joseph.

Photos by Owen Main

Unless you’re a coach, games are always better when they’re close. On Friday night, San Luis Obispo and Mission Prep matched-up in at least four varsity sports.

Boys’ Soccer

San Luis Obispo (11-3-2, 5-1-1) scored early and often in a win at San Luis Obispo High School. By the time I got to the game, about six or eight minutes in, the score was already 2-0 and the Tigers were lining up for a penalty kick. SLO continued to score in the second half — Grayson Stewart earned and finished a penalty — and the Tigers rolled over the Royals (3-12, 0-6) by a final score of 5-0.

Photos by Owen Main

To View All Photos, Click here

Girls’ Soccer

The girls’ soccer match promised to be closer than the boys’ game. Mission Prep (9-4-2, 3-1-2) has had a great season so far. Unfortunately for the Royals, SLO was undefeated coming in and continued the trend.

Through light rain at SLO High, the Tigers got a goal apiece in the first and second halves, controlling play for a 2-0 league win.

The Tigers are now 15-0-1 overall and 7-0 in Pac 8 play.

Photos by Owen Main

To view all photos, click here

Girls’ Basketball

While San Luis Obispo dominated the soccer matchups, Mission Prep got a pair of basketball wins. On the girls’ side, Andrew Richardson’s Royals (11-7, 5-2) used tough defense to beat the Tigers (9-9, 2-5) 44-25.

Boys’ Basketball

When I arrived, the game was just beginning, the atmosphere was already electric. With both the Mission and San Luis Obispo student sections jam-packed into Mission Prep’s gym, ear plugs would have been in order if I’d had them.

San Luis Obispo kept the game close for most of the first two quarters before Mission used runs in the second and third quarters to extend the lead that they’d hold onto throughout the fourth quarter.

For their part, San Luis Obispo (12-9, 3-4) looked like the improved squad they are. It would be great for high school sports in SLO if this rivalry continues to heat up the next time they face one another and in coming years.

Mission’s junior forward Kyle Stewart had a great game to the tune of 20 points — his patented “eyes-closed” shot release seemingly dialed-in.

Mission (11-8, 6-1) maintained their one-game deficit behind St. Joseph with the second half of Pac 8 play starting this week.

Photos by Owen Main

To view all photos, click here.

All-SLO, all the time

I saw at least half of three games on Friday night and even managed to sneak in a burger at Franks between the two soccer games at SLO High. On February 12, all four teams will once again face-off in the final game of the regular season for all of them. I love rivalries.

On Thursday night, Esperanza (Yorba Linda) beat Mission Prep in San Luis Obispo three sets to one. 

After Esperanza dominated the first set, the Royals came back to win the second set 26-24. Mission Prep kept things close in both the third and fourth sets, but came up a few points short in each. The Royals finish their season 23-7 overall.

For all photos from the match, click here. 

On Friday night, Mission Prep football completed an undefeated Northern League season, beating Morro Bay 54-19. The game was close in the first quarter until Morro Bay lost starting quarterback Isaac Manuputy. Mission dominated the second quarter en route to the big win, including consecutive interception returns for touchdowns by the defense.

The Royals finished the regular season 8-2 and will host a CIF playoff game Friday against Aquinas (San Bernardino).

Mission Prep Volleyball won a non-league girl’s volleyball match on Tuesday night against visiting Pioneer Valley.

After a win at Atascadero, the Royals are now 10-3 overall on the season.

Photos by Owen Main – To view or buy photos, click here.

Mission Prep quarterback Bryce Fledderman threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns on Friday night. By Owen Main

On Friday night, Mission Prep used a big performance from quarterback Bryce Fledderman to improve their record to 3-0 on the young season. The Royals, who won just four games a year ago, have a defense that gets off the field on third  down and an offense that has been able to consistently move the ball.

Fledderman’s 295-yard, three-touchdown performance will make defenses have to respect the Royals’ passing game along with a running game that has been very efficient so far in this young season.

Mission, which has two more games before the start of league play, will host Sierra Canyon on Friday.

Photos by Owen Main – click here

Mission Prep used strong defensive play and an efficient ground game to beat Rio Hondo Prep 23-6 on Friday night in San Luis Obispo.

Braden Corona, a junior running back, racked-up 211 yards on 25 carries for the Royals, who didn’t give up any points after a first-quarter touchdown. With the score 7-6 and the clock winding down, Mission made a goal-line stand to finish the first half. The Royals finished the game by scoring 23 unanswered points.

Mission Prep (1-0), travels to Orange County for an away game next week at Crean Lutheran.

Photos by Owen Main

Mission Prep head coach Terrance Harris had his team ready to play at home on Wednesday. They will hit the road this weekend. By Owen Main

After losing a tight game in the CIF Southern Section 4AA championship game, Mission Prep was awarded a first-round home game in the state playoffs. On Wednesday night, they used strong defense and fast-breaking offense to run out to a commanding early lead en route to a 78-39 win over Bakersfield Christian.

Matthew Blaney led Mission Prep with 24 points. Quinton Adlesh scored just two points, but dished out 11 assists in the no-doubt-about-it win. In other news, head coach Terrance Harris finally shaved the beard he had been growing for about two months too long.

With the win, Mission Prep moves into the final eight in the state in Division IV. They will play Saturday night at 5:00pm in Los Angeles against familiar foe, Campbell Hall. Led by UCLA-bound Aaron Holliday, Campbell Hall lost in the 4-A Southern Section final and won their Wednesday night game as well. Earlier this season, Campbell Hall beat Mission in the Mission Prep Christmas Classic, despite a great individual performance from Quinton Adlesh. Adlesh will have to find a way to simultaneously find his teammates and be a scoring threat. Very good teams have found a way to limit him to one or the other this season. Campbell Hall is a really good team.

Mission might be a little deeper than they were earlier in the season, a little more organized, and generally a little better than they showed that night in December against Campbell Hall. I’m sure the same goes for Campbell Hall, though . Winning on the road is a tough task in the playoffs. For their part, the Royals and their clean-shaven coach have just a few more days to extend their season, and try to extend their run into the state’s Division IV Final Four.

Photos by Owen Main