Boys basketball concludes season after championship win

Saturday, Mar. 5: the Samo boys basketball team wins the CIF Division 1A championship for the second time in four years. After a historic season, all roads lead to the Honda Center. The first-seeded Vikings faced off against the Temecula Valley Golden Bears, a formidable opponent as they were ranked second in the division, beating them 66-60. Before the ball was tipped, Samo looked like they were at a disadvantage. Temecula has a lot of height as their two team captains alone stand at 6’6” and 6’9”. The game started off with both teams going back and forth, battling for a lead. Samo’s bright spot of the quarter was guard Rod Henley II (’17). He provided a spark defensively and scored 9 of the team’s first quarter points.The first quarter ended with Temecula up 14-13.  In the second quarter, the wheels started coming off for Samo. Aside from having a poor shooting percentage in the quarter, Temecula’s star center Scott Hollingsworth was giving them a fit on the boards. Temecula exploited Samo’s zone defense, creating easy shots. By the end of the half Samo was trailing 35-24.Coming out of the break, the Vikings played with more fight. Coach James Hecht adjusted for Temecula’s size and sent out his bruisers, guard/forward Isaiah Johnson (’18), forward Mikhail Brown (’16) and guard Tony Holley III (’17), to counteract the rebound onslaught. Samo was able to put together a run and cut the gap. Lead by their team captain, guard Jonah Matthews (’16), who wouldn’t let them lose, Samo was right back in the game. Mathews really turned it around in the second half after starting the game 1 for 10 from the field. At the end of the third quarter, the score was knotted at 44. “I was just thinking how far we have come and how hard we have worked,” Mathews said.This game can't be recounted without mentioning the referees.“I felt they were very one sided for a good portion of the game,” Brown said. “There were a lot of soft ticky tacky fouls called on us.” Even without getting many calls their way, Samo prevailed. Their speed finally caught up to Temecula and created turnovers. In the end Samo was on top 66-60. At the end of the game, the team’s emotions poured out. Everyone on the team took part in the embrace of a championship team at center court. It was a very special moment. “It feels great; all me, [Brown], [forward] Tim [Southam (’16)] and [guard] Chailen [August (’16)] have talked about since our sophomore year was winning another CIF title,” Mathews said. “It just feels like a dream come true.”This year’s team had a special bond and it showed on the court.“It means so much to me because all those guys are my brothers,” Brown said. “I have been friends with some of those guys since I was 13 years old. I wouldn't want to have this experience with any other group.”Unfortunately, on Wednesday, Mar. 9, the Vikings’ season came to an end. Samo fell to George Washington Prep High School  in the first round of the CIF Division II State Playoffs tournament. But at the end of day, the team will always remember capturing the CIF title.