In one of the most exciting rivalry games in the past few years, the Diamond Bar boys basketball team suffered a three-point loss on Dec. 18 to Walnut, 62-59. The two teams were neck-to-neck for most of the game until the Brahmas made crucial turnovers in the fourth quarter that allowed the Mustangs to pull ahead and ultimately win. 

The Brahmas preseason record stands at  5-9.

The first quarter was the lowest-scoring quarter for both teams, and Diamond Bar struggled to find its rhythm on offense, trailing by five points to end the first.  However, the two-minute break seemed to reset the Brahmas, and freshman Malcolm Bell scored two three-pointers to open the second quarter. 

A successful drive by sophomore guard Blake Davis and another three by freshman Dylan Stout gave the Brahmas their biggest lead of the night, 26-17. After a forced timeout called by the Mustangs, they were able to rebound from the deficit, utilizing their corner three-point shooters to narrow the Brahma’s lead to 2 points as the half ended at 30-28. 

The third and fourth quarters featured a shoot-out between the two teams, with Walnut’s corner shooter senior Isa Juraishi continuing to make field goals and Diamond Bar’s Bell and Stout responding. At the end of the third, the Brahmas held a 45-44 lead with the game coming down to the wire. Freshman Alex Kim rose up in the last quarter, dropping two three-pointers for the Brahmas but Juraishi answered with his own as well. 

The Brahmas’ downfall came late in the fourth with Walnut’s 9-0 run, giving the Mustangs a 61-53 lead with a minute left in the game. But the Brahmas did not quit. Bell and Stout both sank three-pointers to make it a two-point game.  However, with Walnut making one free throw and taking possession of the ball, the clock ran out of time and the Brahmas lost 62-59.

The boys will play in the Damien Classic Tournament on Dec. 26.