No way to deny it -- this is a big game for Mira Costa

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A win would shake up their season. And baffle the Bay League. And rattle the rankings.

Mira Costa girls’ basketball Coach Don Braunecker knows all that. But he downplays it. Just listen. ‘I don’t want to sit on the fence about it but...’ Braunecker said, then conceded, ‘Yeah, it’s a big one.’

A colossal one -- Mira Costa vs. Redondo, the underdog vs. the big dawg.

Redondo, a 14-1 juggernaut and ranked No. 3 by The Times, has outscored 10 opponents by at least 10 points this season and boasts an unstoppable force on the floor: UCLA-bound Antonye Nyingifa, a double-double destroyer. ‘Realistically, she’ll get her points -- we just have to hold the rest of the team down,’ Braunecker said.

And don’t diss Mira Costa (13-3) -- it has stars, too, girls like CS Fullerton-recruit Megan Richardson (19.3 points) and Loyola-destined Mikah Maly-Karros (19).

Braunecker left with a promise: ‘This is one of those games you gotta enjoy.’ He’s going to be right. So head to Redondo and see if Mira Costa can whip up an upset at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

-- Anthony Stitt