Boys' basketball ends league season as Ocean League champions

Francesca BillingtonStaff Writer

The boys’ basketball team has thrived this season and cemented the Ocean League championship with a final game on Thursday, Feb. 7 against Hawthorne High School.Ray Mancini (’14) credits the fans’ support for the majority of the team's motivation.“The league games [are] the craziest and most exciting ones,” Mancini said. "The fans play a big part [in] how we play; [they] give us more confidence and more momentum.”Beginning the season, the team was confident that they would do well in league, according to co-captain Trevis Jackson (’13).According to guard David Sandoval (’13), league games were the perfect opportunity for the team to prepare themselves for California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) games.“League is where our team found our potential,” Sandoval said. “We found potential in our ability to outrun and out-execute teams later in games, and stick together to find ways to win a game.”The team ended league with a record of 9-1, and has an overall record of 21-6.Although the team has done exceedingly well so far, according to captain Trevis Jackosn, previous wins and accomplishments are not important as bigger games lay ahead for the team.“I feel as if the team no longer regards being league champs as an accomplishment,” Jackson said. “Because right now is the start of a new season, where nothing else matters except being the best team that one night: game night. Previous record, league champions, big wins—none of that matters anymore.”According to Sandoval, the team’s hardest competition was Inglewood."They matched up really well with us and both games were very close and competitive," Sandoval said.Jackson says that the team must focus concisely on each game because individual games are more important now.“With single game elimination in the playoffs, we're just focused on proving our doubters wrong and getting to the championship,” Jackson said.According to Jackson, league games have fostered the team’s motivation for future games.The team’s loss to Beverly, for example, drives Jackson to keep the team doing well.“We're definitely fueled by that painful loss to Beverly Hills in league. Watching them storm the court replays in my head continuously, and it reminds me of my mission as captain to push the guys to their limit,” Jackson said. “I don't plan on stopping until I get to where I want to be with my team.”fbillington@thesamohi.com