Young team unable to clinch wins
BOYS BASKETBALL Despite a lack of experience, Brahmas earned spot in CIF playoffs ending the season 3-7.
February 25, 2016
Despite fielding a roster of mostly young blood, with a handful of veterans, the Diamond Bar High School’s varsity boys basketball team was able to end the regular season with a bang, beating the Glendora Tartans 64-32 on Senior Night, Feb. 11, and earning the team a spot in the CIF playoffs.
However, the team’s championship dreams were crushed by a 55-24 loss to Rancho Verde Mustangs Feb. 17 in the first round.
They finished the season 3-7 and finished with a 0-1 record in CIF playoffs.
Head coach Henry Frierson believes that the team had the talent to do well, but that the lack of returning players made it difficult to compete in big games.
The team lost the majority of its matchups in the Palomares League to teams like the Ayala Bulldogs and the Bonita Bearcats, who both ended the season 9-1.
The previous season, the team had nine seniors, all of whom were returning players, while this season the team only had three.
For their final game of the regular season, the Brahmas were able to come out on top against the Tartans for the first time this season. The team’s two other wins were both against South Hills, coming out on top with scores of 64-62 and 67-41, respectively.
Senior captains Evon Shubin and Damien Flores have been major factors in the team’s wins, along with junior Malik Corey.
“Our strength this year has probably been in our post play, but I think our biggest weakness is just our size and inexperience,” Frierson said. “Our centers are pretty decent size, but then we have a vast drop-off to our forward and wing positions.”
One of the team’s goals was to end the season off on a high note for the remaining seniors. Frierson expects the team to do well next year due to the talent from younger players, such as freshman Ethan Galang.
“He is a really good player for us. There are still a lot of rookie mistakes that he makes, but his shooting ability is very high for his age,” Frierson said. “We’re extremely young, but I think we made a lot of progress in developing the kids in the program in general.”
The team was able to make the CIF playoffs despite placing fourth in the regular season, as Ayala High School was selected to play in a different CIF division.
