Winning a CIF game last year for the first time since 2005, the Diamond Bar boys basketball started its 2013-14 season by participating in the second annual Tip Off at the Empire tournament. Competing against elite teams like the Corona Centennial Huskies and Etiwanda Eagles, the Brahmas placed seventh and finished the tournament with a 1-3 record.
“As the tournament went on, we progressively got better in each game, which is all you can hope for early in the season,” coach Henry Frierson said.
On the first day of the tournament, the Brahmas were matched up against the highly-talented Huskies. Corona Centennial is the 12th best team in the state and consists of superstar point guard Sedrick Barefield, who is one of the most renowned players in the nation and has received scholarship offers from Connecticut and Michigan State University. DB, outplayed from the start of the game, lost the match 84-40.
“We were a little shell shocked in the first. They were probably the fastest and strongest team we are going to face all year. We learned the hard way from it,” Frierson said.
This was not the first time the Brahmas faced such tough competition. Early last season, DB competed against the Etiwanda Eagles, who later won the Southern Division CIF playoffs. The Eagles also had a superstar of their own, USC-bound Jordan McLaughlin, who is the 37th ranked player in the class of 2014.
After losing the second game of the tournament to the Central Fresno Grizzlies 69-41, the Brahmas could not keep up with the East Bakersfield Blades, losing 49-41. Senior captain and point guard Christian “Money” Manalo lead the way with 18 points, 12 coming in the fourth quarter. Manalo finished the tournament with 50 points and 12 steals. Junior center Austin Kim also stepped up as he finished the game with six points with eight rebounds, six of them offensive.
On the last day of the tournament, the Brahmas defeated the Dorsey Dons 53-52 after making a 28-15 run in the second half to give DB seventh place in the tournament. Manalo finished the game with 14 points on four three-pointers, and junior guard Kenneth Thai scored ten points during the game.
Last season, the Brahmas made history by reaching the second round of the playoffs. Playing a hard fought game, DB could not match up against the El Toro Matadors’ size losing 66-50. After losing six seniors from the squad, the team is now looking to rebuild and compete fiercely in each and every game.
“League Championship, “Frierson said on what the team’s expectations are for the season. “I expect my team to play their best and hardest in each and every game this season. Whenever we step in a game or a tournament, we want to win.”