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.

The Pac 8 will be a fun league to keep an eye on this year. On Tuesday night, many SLO County teams kicked off the new year with league games.

Girls

San Luis Obispo hung on to beat Atascadero 55-52. The game was physical both ways — about 30 fouls were called in the first half. SLO’s Lily Svetich was in early foul trouble, but the Tigers maintained a healthy lead until the final frame, when the Greyhounds had a strong comeback bid fall short.

Photos by Owen Main – Find them all here

Mission Prep, Righetti, and St. Joseph were also winners on the opening night.

On the boys’ side, Mission Prep, St. Joseph, Atascadero, and Arroyo Grande all won.

Lots of close games and lots of great basketball to be played. League play is in full swing.

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 Friday night in the first round of CIF playoffs, Mission Prep scored three unanswered touchdowns to go up 21-7 at halftime. Unfortunately for the Royals, Aquinas scored three unanswered touchdowns of their own to beat Mission Prep 28-21.

Mission might have gone up by three touchdowns just before the half, but officials ruled Patrick Miller’s catch in the end zone incomplete. A subsequent Mission Prep field goal attempt failed and the Royals led by just 14 at halftime.

Mission Prep finishes the season 8-3 and won the Northern League title.

Photos by Owen Main – Click here for all photos

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. 

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