LAKEWOOD — In a boys basketball battle between two undefeated teams in the Gateway League, La Mirada used its experience and physicality to dominate Mayfair in an 89-62 rout Friday night.

The Matadores (18-4, 2-0) got off to a fast start and never looked back. Senior guard Julien Gomez set the tone by scoring 11 of his game-high 25 points, and knocking down two 3-pointers, in the first quarter.

Gomez said he always tries to be aggressive at the start of each game and that it’s part of the game plan.

“I usually come out every game aggressive,” said Gomez, who added three rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a block. “I look to score, I like to get downhill, look for others when the defense collapses.”

Gomez added that La Mirada was looking forward to the game and had a little extra motivation taking on the rival Monsoons.

“We were all really hyped for this game,” said Gomez. “I don’t think it was just me that set the tone, it was everybody from the top all the way down the roster. We all just came in today really excited to play this game. It’s a rival game; it’s my last time playing here at Mayfair High School. We just came with a lot of energy.”

As he said, he wasn’t the only player who had a strong game; it was a balanced attack for the Matadores.

Junior guard King Riley Owens scored 16 points with four assists and three rebounds and sophomore forward Gene Roebuck added 15 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Mayfair (16-5, 3-1) came into the game looking to take control of the league race, but it couldn’t match the Matadores’ experience and maturity.

“It’s a learning lesson for us,” Mayfair head coach Donnell Meekins said. “We came in with a great record, and it will make us better. We will be a lot better prepared the next time we play.”

The Monsoons were led by senior guard Nasir Chapman, who scored a team-high 21 points. Junior forward Josiah Johnson added 17 points, four assists, and three steals.

La Mirada seemingly put the game away early, as it outscored the Monsoons 21-8 in the second quarter and built a 19-point lead at halftime. The Matadores’ lead reached 35 points in one stretch of the second half.

La Mirada coach Randy Oronoz believed his team put together a strong all-around performance while staying focused on improving with each game.

“Just sticking to our defensive principles, sharing the ball, and trying to not take bad shots,” Oronoz said. “It was a good win for us to take first place in league. We’re just trying to get better; we’re trying to give our bench guys some minutes to get better.”