Mission Bears Advance as they Topple the Galileo Lions 75-49

February 25, 2011

Mission Bears battling with the Galileo Lions for the rebound (Photo courtesy of Janis Lewin)

 By: Richard Lee


  The first game of the AAA post season in Mission’s home “Coach Mac” gymnasium certainly had a fair amount of fireworks as the host Bears decided to hold nothing back and earn a one-sided victory over the Galileo Lions with a 75-49 score. The men in brown and yellow seem to be giving a message to the other AAA teams every time they walk off the basketball court with a victory. A message saying very clearly that the championship trophy won by Mission last season isn’t going anywhere.
“I could always be happier but we got the win and we advanced to the play-offs and that what it’s really all about.” said Mission head coach Arnold Zelaya about what he thought of his basketball club’s win
The first quarter would begin with both teams experiencing slow starts. Up to the 3:51 mark, the scoreboard would only show 3-2 with Galileo holding on to the infinitesimal lead over Mission. The Bears would soon gather themselves however, as they were come across an offensive surge and end the quarter with a 17-8 lead.
Play-off atmosphere could definitely be sensed during the second frame. As all 10 players that were playing on the floor turned up the degree of violence. Bodies were flying up and down the court at a tremendous rate. The game was starting to get interesting at this point. At the end of the half, Mission would enjoy a fair double-digit lead with a score of 34-20.
The big story for Galileo’s struggles in the first half was the amount of turnovers committed. A total of 17 times was the ball thrown away by Galileo. Mission on the other hand, was able to take care of the ball more efficiently with eight turnovers.

Shaquille Fisher(right) plays defense against Galileo (Photo courtesy of Janis Lewin)

The third of the game was where Mission was really able to assert themselves defensively and really pull this one out of the reaches of the visiting team. Only eight points would be scored by Galileo in this period.
  At this point, the contest was a 20+ pt. game and any attempts of a comeback by the Lions would be futile. The end result would be 75-49.
  The hugest mark was left by Mission’s 6’5 center Alec Tatum, who had a career night as he controlled the game on both sides of the playing field. Tatum was able to tie his career-highs with 16 points and four blocks.
          The stat that was the most colossal variable to the Mission victory was his individual rebounding performance of 18 boards. His ongoing persistence on the glass tonight to help his team retrieve possession  after possession would prove to play the most pivotal role in tonight’s match-up.
  “It was a good individual game but it was all in the team, everybody contributed to the success of tonight‘s victory.” Tatum testified when asked to give a reflection on his memorable night.
  “We have to clean all of the little things up now and we really got to dial it in now. It’s play-offs which means that it’s do-or-die now.” said the winning head coach Arnold Zelaya when asked about what he expects from his kids before the next game on Wednesday.
  This defeat ends the Galileo Lion’s  as they are sent on their way back home and won’t be asked to return to basketball competition until winter comes around once again.
Kezar Pavilion is now the next stop for the Bears as they will face the Wallenberg  Bulldogs, on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011.
  Wallenberg is coming off a victory over Lincoln and will be prepared to face the Mission Bears.This will be a rematch of last year’s finals which resulted in Mission claiming the championship with a win over Wallenberg.
These two teams met earlier in the season, it was on January 20th inside The McAteer Gym. A close game occurred in where the Bears were able to slip away with a 70-65 victory.

Lights!... Curtains!... Action!: Stage for AAA Boys Basketball Playoffs All Set

February 24^th, 2011

The championship trophy will be the most towering prize that will be claimed by the team that makes their way to the promise land. (Photo courtesy of Richard Lee)

By: Richard Lee

            It’s certainly been an exciting and thrilling ride in this basketball season thus far, with the past two months being filled with an immense variety of memorable moments.

            But regular season is regular season. It is now a thing of the past. Those fortunate enough to make the final four in their respective divisions will now focus on the present which is the long awaited play-offs.

            It’s very simple, win three games in the next two weeks and the trophy will be under your institute’s belt.

            The schools that will compete from the NEFF division are listed here from the highest seed to lowest.

Lowell Cardinals (12-4)

Wallenberg Bulldogs (10-6)

 Burton Pumas (6-10)

Galileo Lions (6-10)   

            The schools that will represent the LANG division are listed here from highest seed to the lowest.

Mission Bears (15-1)

Washington Eagles (14-2)

Lincoln Mustangs (12-4)

Marshall Phoenix (8-8)

            The records show that the Lang division squads have a much more impressive record than that of the NEFF division teams.

            However, do not count out the second seed from the NEFF. The Wallenberg Bulldogs, despite the relatively poor record compared to the Lang division teams are no strangers to rallying and pulling off shockers during play-off time. Last year’s AAA finals contenders will look forward to enter post season as the underdogs and attempt to impress doubters.  Wallenberg head coach Patrick Mulligan seems to have a knack for finding a way and sneaking itself to safety when it really matters.

            Be on the lookout for the LANG division teams as their records are no exaggeration to the supremacy that they have put on during each game.

            Third place Lincoln will play with an added sense of urgency. Before the regular season had started, the Mustangs have lost their head coach Mike Gragnani. Ever since then, a new level of determination could be seen in the eyes of the Lincoln players and staff.

            Second place Washington Eagles will definitely catch the attention of many during this ceremonial two-week event. With a staggering record of 14-2, Washington has established itself as an elite force throughout the city. Washington had been leading the league in the standings for the whole season until their last game on February 22^nd, 2011, when they were defeated by the Mission Bears. The Eagles will rest on the shoulders of their “Big 3”. The senior trio of guard Brendan Glapion(who leads the league in individual scoring with 23 points), forward Levander Moore, and guard Jeremy Jetton.

            An interesting note was that Washington has beaten Mission before on a blowout win of 89-66. This was Mission’s only loss of the regular season.

            The ball club that holds the regular season title and is the overwhelming favorite to win this year’s title is the reigning champion, Mission who has a flat-out dominating record of 15-1. The Bears have absolutely mulled down every team in the league and any adversary contending against them will have to face the daunting task of simply trying to keep up.

            The featured game in the tip-off of post season will be taking place alongside Dolores Park within the corners of Mission High School‘s main gymnasium. The Galileo Lions are expected to visit and clash with the Mission Bears at 4:00 P.M.(Pacific time) February 25th, 2011. The last time these two associations met was on January 26^th, 2011, when Mission defeated Galileo 82-59.

             A monolithic amount of pressure is on the line for every single team. One loss is all it takes for a team’s season to be ultimately seized until the winter comes around again. Intense methods of preparation are being endured by each club as we speak. With the stage finally ready for a show, each individual organization will be forced to put on a competent performance. If not, they will have to walk towards the exit sign, check out, and make way for whoever puts on the greatest display of basketball execution. 

Click here for all of the match-ups happening!

Enter The Mission! : Bears Alone at The Top Heading into Postseason

February 22nd, 2011

The Mission Bears huddle together to discuss about the next play(Photo courtesy of Sheriee Borela)

By: Richard Lee
          It was certainly expected to be a game that’s importance was huge. The visiting Bears and hosting Eagles were both tied for the first spot in the league with a 14-1 record. This game, coincidently the last game of the regular season, was going to determine the team with the best record. Washington had an edge coming into this game, holding Mission’s only loss and playing under their own lights. The Bears would get their revenge as they were able to take the spot as AAA’s highest seed with a statement-making 77-66 victory. 
          “Well we(Mission) had to clean some things up, we’re still really sloppy in some areas of the game but it worked out and we were able to be successful tonight. As any team should, we’ve gotten a lot better as the season went along.” said Mission head coach Arnold Zelaya in how he thought his team played during the last game of the season. 
          “They(Mission) played with a lot of intensity today, we knew that if we wanted to have a chance to play well in this game, we needed to match-up to them and we didn’t. And we knew the moment after we beat them the first time that they were going to be ready for us and they played really well today.” said Washington head coach Jolinko Lassiter when asked about what Mission did differently in this game compared to the 89-66 victory in Mission territory dating back to January 18th, 2011. 
          As roses were being handed to parents and fans were getting settled in their seats, anybody in the building could feel the tension starting to rise. Once tip-off commenced, the beginning of a fight was about to occur. Both teams were playing aggressive defense and the ball was flying up and down the court. The tempo of the game was at a tremendous rate. A total of 18 turnovers were committed by both teams in the first quarter alone with Washington having 11 while Mission had 7. A low-scoring affair was sensed as the period ended with a 17-12 lead with Mission having the slim edge. 
          The second frame would be a time in where Mission was able to establish a slightly larger lead.  The quarter started off with a 9-0 run in the 4:42 mark. The score at the end of the half would show Mission ahead in a 36-26 contest. 
          Washington would struggle taking care of the ball with 20 turnovers in the first half alone. Mission would have 15 turnovers in its own right, but would have an advantage through it’s rebounding efforts with 23 boards.
          As second half began, there was a different feeling to the atmosphere of the gymnasium after a half where Mission looked nothing similar to the team that was embarrassed at home a month ago. The Mission guests would find a spark on the defensive end being able to hold Washing scoreless in the first two and a half minutes of third quarter play. Washington would make an attempt to alter Mission’s offense by turning on the 2-3 zone. It ultimately wouldn’t work out as the Bears would enjoy their best scoring quarter with 22 points. Washington would still find some life scoring 19 points with the main screen showing 58-45. 
          The fourth quarter would have a fair share of dramatics when senior center Alec Tatum, who was the source of the Bear’s defensive dominance, was called for four fouls within just the first minute of the period. However, it would prove to not be a factor as the concluding frame was merely a matter of trading baskets, a scenario that the Eagles just simply couldn’t have if they wanted to mount any sort of comeback in this season finale. The final count would be 77-66. 
          The outstanding player of the game would be junior forward Gione Edwards, who was inches away from a double-double with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and seven steals. Also was Gione’s teammate from last year at Sacred Heart Cathedral sophomore Antoine Porter, who had a well-rounded game with 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Numerous plays were seen in where these two players assisted to each other as the Sacred Heart Connection was really the dynamic in Mission’s scoring frenzy. 
          The senior Bigs also played a pivotal role in this one. Forward Travis Price-Moku was able to lead Mission’s rebounding effect of 44 total with 10 grabs on the glass of his own. Center Alec Tatum was the nucleus of the Bear’s defense, recording four blocks that really sent a message to any Eagle that dared make an attempt to flight towards the direction of the rim.
           “So far, we’re 15-1. But so far, we still need three more wins until we are where we’re focused at.” said Arnold Zelaya when asked the remaining steps ahead for his team’s goals. 
          With the title of AAA’s season champions under their belt now, the Bears will continue their quest to meet their ambitions. Their record is now well above .500 with 21 wins and just nine losses. Their 15-1 wins to loss ratio puts them at the top of the standings and established themselves as a force to be reckoned with throughout the coming weeks that lie ahead. 
          The Bears now await for their opponent, who will be decided within the next two days. Mission will have their postseason dawn in their home court  on February 25th, 2011 at 5:30 PM(Pacific time). Their possible opponents for this momentous night will be the fourth seed of the NEFF division, which could be either Galileo High School, Burton High School, or O’Connell High School. These three teams are within a game apart from each other and a wide array of different scenarios are likely to occur before a final stroke of the official pen in the standings are made. All three of these institutes have fallen to Mission in a harsh fashion, with all three NEFF division ball clubs averaging a deficit of exactly 30 points to Mission!