After a hard loss in the league championship finals against Woodbridge, the boys’ basketball team strategized and worked relentlessly off and on the court to make it far in CIF Playoffs. The first opponent they were up against was the Wiseburn-Da Vinci (WDV) team. In the first quarter, the Sage Hill boys were in the lead, truly utilizing the effective plays that the coaches created. In the second quarter, Sage began to lose momentum and trailed behind by 20 points. Yet, after discussing errors and analyzing the other team, Sage was able to come back in the third quarter with 3-pointers. In the last and final quarter, Sage was able to bring home a victory with a score of 59 to 54.
The boys’ basketball team was determined to defend the hill in their game against their second opponent: Oaks Christian. The point guards on Oaks Christian’s team helped them gain the lead in the second quarter. Once again, Sage’s team worked together to run effective plays against Oaks Christian that gave them the lead in the third quarter and the win in the final quarter. The team left the gym overjoyed to play in the CIF quarterfinals and bring home another victory.
“I see them high-five after timeouts and lift each other up. I see how they come back game after game, always walking into practice with a positive attitude. That resilience is what makes me so proud of the team,” Head Coach D’Cean Bryant said.
“What makes me most proud of the team is the personal and athletic growth in every player from beginning to the end of season,” Assistant Coach Elijah Gaines said.
“I love playing with this team and one of my favorite memories is the San Diego trip that we took for a tournament. We really felt like such a close team,” senior Captain Brayden Brien said.
In the CIF quarterfinals, the boys’ basketball team faced a difficult opponent: La Habra. Yet, every player on the team battled on the court to get points on the board. Senior Captain Sergio Magette shot vital three pointers that allowed the team to truly challenge La Habra. Despite Sage Hill’s hard work and determination, La Habra won, 47-43. The Sage Hill Boys’ Basketball Team plans to practice constantly in the off season to bring home a CIF championship title next season.
