It had been more than five weeks since the Bruins had played their last game. With Finals, the Christmas holidays, and the tragic California wildfires, Geffen Academy had not only shut down their school, but all athletic games were suspended indefinitely. As the fires began to cease, the team scrambled to put together practices on the weekend and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, said league sources who were not authorized to speak publicly of the situation. The team departed Geffen Academy at 3:05 PM on Tuesday for a 7:00 game against HMSA, and had to sit through two other make-up games before their match.

Playing at the Betty Ainsworth Sports Center in Hawthorne, the Bruins jumped out to a quick 19-7 lead. Jordan Ohebsion and Noah Saucedo, who'd struggled up until this point in the year, scored nine of the first twelve points. For Ohebsion, the extended break arguably did him the most good of anyone on the roster, as it gave him a chance to heal his ailing finger and get back on track. He finished the game with 13 points, by far his season high. Although the Aviators continued to play hard after their early deficit, the gap in talent between the two teams was undeniable. Other than their struggles on the offensive glass, which certainly need to be addressed moving forward, the Bruins dominated every facet of the game. While Stevan Markovic certainly didn't have his best game, his five three-pointers and constant outside presence was enough to give HMSA defensive fits. Nathan Muhumuza had the game's biggest impact, particularly in the first half, where he finished the second quarter only five assists away from a triple-double. Geffen Academy led by 20, and both teams and coaches knew the game was pretty much over by halftime. Muhumuza finished his day with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists, his second triple-double in his last three games.

It's the Bruins' seventh consecutive win (dating back to their final game in the De Toledo Invitational). So what does it mean? It's all setting up for a senior night showdown against the villainous Rolling Hills Preparatory on February 5th. If Geffen Academy can win out until that point, they'll play for the league championship, a feat that seemed far-fetched just a couple of months ago. This may be the Bruins' best chance ever to win a league championship, and it'll be a gut-punching loss if Lucy pulls the football away again. While the writers (like me) and fans can look forward to that game with anticipation, Geffen Academy plays the second half of a back-to-back tonight at 5:30 against Vistamar, who gave them a close contest before the winter holidays. They'll need to keep winning, or they'll see their shot at a league title dissolve into the wind.
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