By Ashley Sanchez | Staff Writer 

   On Feb. 11, the Gabrielino High School (GHS) boys varsity basketball team played against Trinity Classical Academy in their first round of CIF, losing to Trinity 68-52 points. 

   This game was part of the 2022 CIF Southern Section Boys Basketball Championships – Division 4AA tournament. 

   Within the first half of the CIF game, the teams were almost tied up, making the outcome of the game very close to call, and by halftime, Trinity was up by one point. 

   By the 3rd and 4th quarter, Trinity managed to achieve a bigger lead which ended up being a gap too big to close for Gabrielino. 

   “In CIF there are no easy games. All the teams that you face are solid teams that bring different challenges,” explained varsity head coach John Carney. “They are teams we are not familiar with, and they don’t know us. So the winner of the game comes down to who is able to execute and play that night.”

   The boys basketball season ended with a 12 game win streak in their league for the team, making them 1st in the Mission Valley League. Including preseason, boys basketball played 28 games, winning 18 of them. 

   “This team’s success has been truly a group effort. We have had solid leadership from our older, more experienced players,” stated Carney. “We had a lot of growth and development from our younger guys.  It has been a year that put us in the right direction for success now and for the years to come.” 

   Leading up to the CIF game, the team played Mountain View High School on Feb. 2, winning 49-38, and El Monte High School on Feb. 4th, where they won 58-53, achieving 1st place in league. 

   “Winning league champs was one of the best parts of the season because we decorated the locker room and when we won, we got pop confetti on the seniors,” stated junior Kyle Chung. 

   Throughout the season, the team worked on communication and expanding the strengths of the team through individual players’ talents. 

   “Darius Eslava, he definitely helped us pass the ball more and get the ball to everyone’s hands, he has a great court vision and isn’t afraid to challenge someone bigger than him,” stated a fellow teammate Chung. “Everyone on our team can score so having someone make those tough passes helps the team momentum.”

   One of the many objectives for the team going forward is to enhance their communication skills on the court and off through team bonding. 

   Junior Nathan Kan stated, “One of my favorite parts about the season was being able to build stronger connections with my teammates and just being able to play the sport that I love.”