After suffering a 52-29 loss against Temple City, the Eagles faced off against San Gabriel High School, walking away with a score of 39-18 on Dec. 5.
The game commenced at 6:30 p.m., with San Gabriel winning the opening possession of the ball however, the Eagles quickly regrouped and applied pressure, activating their tight defense.
“It was a high-stakes game considering that we’ve been winning against them for the last five years. We really wanted to come out with a win,” stated team captain Ava Yamashita, senior.
The first quarter of the game was a tightly contested battle, with both teams demonstrating their skill and resilience. However, it was the Eagles’ explosive surge in the second quarter that shifted the momentum decisively in their favor. They built a substantial lead, ultimately finishing the second quarter with a score of 21-9.
“Going into the game, we were all excited, but I think our defensive intensity made the difference,” shared junior Katelyn Chung. “I knew we would just go out there and have fun like we always do.”
Chung played a pivotal role in guiding her team to victory, finishing the game with 17 points and providing several critical assists to her teammates.
The Eagles’ offensive strategy clicked into high gear as the game progressed. Yamashita praised the overall intensity of the game and highlighted the standout performances from her teammates, particularly center Lily De Leon, senior, and small forward Shannon Yan. Yan was instrumental in shutting down San Gabriel’s advances and skillfully maneuvered the ball back into their half, ultimately sinking a basket that capped off the third quarter with a striking score of 12-37.
For De Leon, the game against San Gabriel was a standout performance being an offensive beast under the basket.
“I love the thrill of fighting for the ball and the excitement when I’m able to wrestle it out of the other girl’s arms,” stated De Leon with a proud smile.
“Both of them really stepped up in this game. They were so aggressive on the court, and it was just really exciting to see,” Yamashita said, laughing.
By the final buzzer, Gabrielino’s 23-point lead was an accurate reflection of the team’s dominance throughout the game.
“Everyone was playing as a unit. It was our first home game where we were all aggressive and playing at our full power,” Yamashita concluded after the game.
With this win now added to their record, the Gabrielino Eagles have positioned themselves as a formidable force to be reckoned with as they head into the official Mission Valley League season, ready to face future challenges.
