Well, folks, our school’s basketball season has unfortunately come to an end, but what a season it has been! Our young men have become the first in California High’s history to not only make it to CIF finals, but also win the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIP match!
But before this historic moment could happen, the work had to be put in. Any good athlete knows that the only way to improve is to work after it, day after day, until the perfect form and technique come naturally to you. Under the guidance of Joel Simonds and the assistance of Donovan Moser, our basketball players powered through league finals to reach CIF preliminaries and eventually become champs.
Game 1: Cal vs San Jacinto
In this match, the Cal boys handily defeated San Jacinto in what can hardly be called a fair match-up, as the Condors DECIMATED the Tigers in a score of 83-58, beating out the Tigers in terms of points scored in all but the last quarter.
- Scores by Quarter:
- Q1: California / 23 | San Jacinto / 8
- Q2: California / 49 | San Jacinto / 22
- Q3: California / 69 | San Jacinto / 41
- Q4: California / 83 | San Jacinto / 58
Game 2: Cal vs Laguna Hills
In a close match of 74-71, California defeated Laguna Hills, which had several known juggernauts on its team. Chief amongst them were Myles Mittelsteadt, who got 25 points and 9 rebounds, as well as Jackson Burnham, who scored 17 points and almost got a triple-double.
However, raw talent from our team was able to counter these forces. Notably, Edgar Beltran scored 15 points and got 7 rebounds during this game. In addition to this, Aham Nwosu, described by HoopVlog as a “tough, efficient post scorer”, also scored the same amount of points, helping to rally the team during the third quarter and to score 10 points more than the Hawks in that time.
- Scores by Quarter:
- Q1: California / 16 | Laguna Hills / 17
- Q2: California / 27 | Laguna Hills / 31
- Q3: California / 53 | Laguna Hills / 47
- Q4: California / 74 | Laguna Hills / 71
Game 3: Cal vs Chino (CIF quarterfinals)
Yet another game in which the Condors prevailed, this time against Chino. California was the underdog in this match, with Chino holding an 11-win streak prior to this match-up. However, Cal showed that if you back a dog into a corner—against almost hopeless odds—it’ll fight like hell to make its way out of there, and that is exactly what our hoopers did, winning 66-64 against the Cowboys.
- Scores by Quarter:
- Q1: California / 12 | Chino / 10
- Q2: California / 32 | Chino / 25
- Q3: California / 48 | Chino / 42
- Q4: California / 66 | Chino / 64
Game 4: Cal vs Alhambra (CIF Semi-Finals)
With the roar of the crowd at home, the Condors easily took down Alhambra, winning 78-59 against the Moors. With this victory, the Condors, for the first time in California High School’s long and storied 71-year history, made it to CIF Finals, an undoubtedly amazing achievement.
- Scores by Quarter:
- Q1: California / 24 | Alhambra / 13
- Q2: California / 40 | Alhambra / 25
- Q3: California / 57 | Alhambra / 43
- Q4: California / 78 | Alhambra / 59
Game 5: Cal vs Citrus Hill (CIF Finals)
No one could have expected what happened here. With the Citrus Hill team leaving a path of blood wherever they went, with such shutouts as their match versus Cathedral City (110-32) or Rim of the World (71-31), the Condors had to give it their all to prevent Citrus Hill’s sixth win in a row. However, our team toughed it out and eventually conquered the Hawks in a triumphant win of 63 to 47.
Another shoutout to Aham Nwosu here, who scored 17 points and got 6 rebounds. Another player instrumental in this win was Kenny Renfrow, who scored 15 points and picked up a considerable number of assists, as the whole team did during this day, getting 17 assists in all compared to Citrus Hill’s measly 8.
- Scores by Quarter:
- Q1: California / 23 | Citrus Hill / 6
- Q2: California / 36 | Citrus Hill / 18
- Q3: California / 45 | Citrus Hill / 29
- Q4: California / 63 | Citrus Hill / 47
All in all, we are VERY proud of our basketball champions!!!!
