The Douglas boys' basketball team had three players in double figures and outscored the Matadors 16-8 in the second quarter to win the third-place game.
Douglas, now 5-3, was led by 6-foot-7 Jeff Nady, who had a game-high 18 points, Kevin Emm (11) and David Laird (10). In all, 10 Tigers scored in a well-balanced attack as Douglas readied itself for its Sierra League opener against Wooster Tuesday in Minden at 7 p.m.
"(The Matadors) made a little run, got us off the dribble a couple of times and knocked down a couple of threes (in the fourth quarter), but we responded and finally put it away," first-year Douglas coach Corey Thacker said.
The Tigers held a 32-22 lead at the half, outscored the Matadors 14-9 in the third period and led by as many as 15 points (46-31) before scrappy Mira Loma rallied in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Windley scored a team-high 15 and Ryan Loomis added 14 for the Matadors, who closed the lead to five points two times (51-46 and 53-48), but the Tigers never broke.
"We're still building on some things," Thacker said. "We have to work on some experience, some game situations so they know what to do in certain situations. We have six returners and have to fill a lot of spots. We have to find a way to trust each other. That comes with working together."
