TEMECULA — A pair of losses last season to Vista Murrieta taught Temecula Valley’s boys basketball team valuable lessons that would pave a path to a CIF Southern Section championship. Wednesday in the Southwestern League opener for both schools, the Golden Bears showed they haven’t forgotten what they learned. Temecula Valley’s Fabian Ruiz #11 and Temecula Valley forward Miles Costello #3 try to block the shot of Vista Murrieta’s Andrew Clyburn #12 in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Temecula Valley’s Jeremiah Profit #5 is pressured by Vista Murrieta’s Jeremiah Davis #1 and Vista Murrieta’s Lawrence Sanford #3 in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Temecula Valley forward Cristiano Thepi #20 and Temecula Valley’s Jeremiah Profit #5 pull down the rebound over Vista Murrieta’s Jagger Saul #5 in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Temecula Valley’s Josiah Profit #22 drives past Vista Murrieta’s Jagger Saul #5 for a layup in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta’s Jeremiah Davis #1 avoids the feet of Temecula Valley players after rebounding the ball in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Temecula Valley’s Fabian Ruiz #11 during player introductions before playing Vista Murrieta in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta’s Andrew Clyburn #12 pulls down the rebound against Temecula Valley in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta’s Jeremiah Davis #1 avoids the feet of Temecula Valley players after rebounding the ball in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Temecula Valley’s Liam Hodgkinson #13 and Vista Murrieta’s Jeremiah Davis #1 fight for the rebound in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta’s Andrew Clyburn #12 controls the rebound as Temecula Valley forward Miles Costello #3 tries to steal it in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta’s Jagger Saul #5 defends Temecula Valley guard Taj Jackson #1 in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Temecula Valley’s Jeremiah Profit #5 shoots over Vista Murrieta’s Jeremiah Davis #1 in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Temecula Valley’s Josiah Profit #22 is pressured by Vista Murrieta’s Amari Rojas #2 in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta’s Jagger Saul #5 passes the ball as Temecula Valley’s Jeremiah Profit #5 defends in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta’s Jeremiah Davis #1 and Temecula Valley fight for the loose ball in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta’s Lawrence Sanford #3 steals the ball from Temecula Valley’s Jeremiah Profit #5 in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 16Temecula Valley’s Fabian Ruiz #11 and Temecula Valley forward Miles Costello #3 try to block the shot of Vista Murrieta’s Andrew Clyburn #12 in the Southwestern League boys basketball game in Temecula on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand Fabian Ruiz splashed a 3-point shot from the deep corner with 27 seconds to play to end the Broncos’ final comeback effort, and Temecula Valley went on to post a 91-86 victory. Temecula Valley, coming off a sixth-place finish in the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic Tournament, improved to 10-8 this season. Vista Murrieta had its three-game win streak snapped and dipped to 14-4. Golden Bears coach James Profit said Wednesday’s victory is a sign of maturity for his squad, which captured the Southern Section’s Division 4A title last season with a 19-15 record. “It shows how we continue on a path of growth,” Profit said. “Last year we were up 16 and 17 points against Vista Murrieta in our two games, and we lost them both. Tonight we weathered the storm.” Sophomore Jeremiah Profit led all scorers with 27 points, including a dozen in the second quarter to ignite Temecula Valley’s offense. Taj Jackson tossed in 23 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter to thwart the Broncos’ late push. Temecula Valley held a 74-60 lead with 6 minutes to play in the fourth quarter after Taj Jackson connected on a 3-pointer. After a timeout, Jagger Saul and Lawrence Sanford heated up for the Broncos, whose 9-2 run was capped by Saul’s 3-pointer that cut the Golden Bears’ lead to 80-78 with 1:51 remaining. Sanford and Saul each had 10 points in the final frame. Temecula Valley answered with a 7-0 run, with Ruiz’s bomb from the corner ending the Broncos’ threat. “That was the dagger,” James Profit said. Vista Murrieta opened quickly and built a seven-point lead to start the contest but then went cold shooting the long ball, and were outscored 20-12 in the second period as Temecula Valley built a 38-30 halftime lead. The Broncos, who were 3 of 15 from 3-point range in the first half, finished 11 of 30 from beyond the arc. “We gave up too much to them early. I wish we had been a little closer when we would make a push,” Vista Murrieta coach Daniel Carlin said. “They shot real well and hit some tough shots. We know they want to get up and down the floor, and we let them get into their game.” Related Articles High School Sports | Santiago girls soccer team beats Roosevelt in Big VIII League showdown between champions High School Sports | Yucaipa girls basketball team holds off Beaumont in Citrus Belt League showdown High School Sports | Riverside Poly boys basketball basketball team beats Rancho Verde in Ivy League action High School Sports | Inland girls athlete of the week: Aliyahna Morris, Etiwanda High School Sports | Inland boys athlete of the week: Dominic Ruiz, Riverside Poly The Broncos had five players score in double figures, with Sanford, Jagger and Andrew Clyburn each scoring 18 points. Jeremiah Davis scored 14 points and Cisco Munoz tossed in 13 points. Sanford hit four shots from 3-point distance. Miles Costello scored 15 points and Liam Hodgkinson added a dozen points to complement Temecula Valley’s balanced attack. The Golden Bears will play at Chaparral Friday. Vista Murrieta will be at home Friday against Great Oak.