This felt like the year.
After many years of .500 records and losing seasons, Geffen Academy was primed for a CIF-SS League Championship. Going into Wednesday's game, everyone was healthy. There was stability between the players and the coaching staff. They had won seven in a row. As I mentioned in my previous article, the ultimate showdown against rival Rolling Hills Preparatory for a league title appeared imminent. While that game would've been, and still will be, a tall task for these undersized but scrappy Bruins, it would've been their best chance at a league championship in the school's history. Instead, they'll face a far more difficult road in the CIF Playoffs come February.

After watching their female counterparts quickly dismantle the Vistamar Vikings, the Bruins took the court for their second game in as many days. Once again, the offensive attack in the first quarter was spearheaded by senior Jordy Ohebsion, capped off by his four-point play with 1:33 remaining the first quarter. Since Ohebsion has recovered from his finger injury over the break, he's scored 13 points in each of the two games he's played in. His offensive resurgence has been a huge lift for the Bruins, who have struggled all year to find a consistent third option on offensive outside of Nathan Muhumuza and Stevan Markovic. But similar to the game the Vikings and Bruins played about six weeks ago back home at the Student Activity Center, Vistamar fought back. Led by senior Isaiah Hill and freshman guard Landon McMorris, the Vikings capitalized on the Geffen Academy turnovers and continually scored at the rim and in the paint. After trailing 20-15 at the end of the first quarter, the Vikings cut it to three at halftime.

In the second half, the Bruins started to rely more on Muhumuza and Markovic to bear the brunt of the load on the offensive end, although both guards didn't have their best shooting nights, particularly Markovic, who's struggled offensively (by his standards) coming out of winter break. The junior guard still finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds, but he took a lot of shots to get there. Coaches Devon McNairy and Marshann Gordon shortened the rotation, which was already down a player as Junior Miles Reville had not dressed for the game.

The Bruins appeared to be heading into the fourth and final quarter up 50-45. But in what would eventually loom a crucial moment, Hill stripped the ball from sophomore guard Ethan Hong in the waning seconds of the third quarter, before calmly draining an NCAA-range three-pointer as time expired. In the fourth and final quarter, both teams struggled to score. But the Geffen Academy turnovers gave the Vikings additional opportunities in transition, and a fastbreak lay-up gave Vistamar a 63-60 lead with just over 25 seconds left. Inexplicably, the Vikings elected not to foul and send the Bruins to the free throw line, instead allowing them to get a chance to tie the game. Geffen Academy got two cracks at it - thanks to Connor Branch's massive offensive rebound, but neither of their jumpers fell. As time expired, Hill launched the ball into the air in jubilation, and a collection of roars sounded from the stands at the Betty Ainsworth Sports Center. As Junior Camron Desai put it after the game, "This was their Super Bowl."
It's a devastating loss for the Bruins, who, even if they win the rest of their games, will finish in second place because of the tiebreaker going to Rolling Hills Prep(who beat Vistamar by a wide margin back in early December). Still, the Bruins can win the state championship. It's out in front of them. However, it'll be a longer, more difficult road without a league championship. Luckily for Geffen Academy, they have a chance to get right back on track against the California Academy of Math and Science (CAMS) in a primetime, 7:00 PM matchup tomorrow night. Talk to you then, folks.

@Vistamar 1/23 Basketball Statistics
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