The Aragon boys basketball team (8-12 overall, 5-5 Peninsula Athletic League)* lost against Mills (3-18 overall, 1-8 PAL)* 50-42 on Feb. 4. After winning 58-44 against Sequoia (6-14 overall, 3-6 PAL)* on Feb. 2, the Dons only needed one more win to make the Central Coast Section playoffs.
However, the Dons, who had previously beaten Mills by 33 points on Jan. 14, underestimated their opponents. This ultimately led to a slow start and the Dons’ eventual loss.
The Dons scored seven points in the first quarter. Three of the Dons’ points were scored by senior forward Amrit Sharma. The Dons’ defense allowed fifteen points in the first quarter. Mills’ first nine points came off of 3-point shots.
Head coach Hosea Patton attributed part of the Dons’ slow start to their overconfidence.
“[Mills was] in their gym and [didn’t] have anything to lose,” Patton said. “Our guys were playing like [they] already won the game.”
Aragon’s defense toughened up in the second quarter and didn’t let Mills score more than ten points. The Dons’ offense also picked up the pace in the second quarter thanks to a boost of energy from senior guard Azekel Kassner, who scored six of the Dons’ 12 second-quarter points.
The Dons entered the third quarter down by five points. A pull-up shot from senior guard Lucas Yoo cut the deficit down to two. Mills quickly scored on a putback by senior forward Shane Williams to extend their lead to four. The Dons then scored five straight points to take a 27-26 lead. The Dons failed to maintain their lead in the third quarter. After almost every play that they made, there was an immediate answer from Mills.
“We have to make CCS so we can have a playoff run for all our seniors”
The Dons entered the final quarter of the game down by two, and the Dons’ cold shooting made it difficult for them to pick up any kind of momentum. The Dons put up 10 points in the fourth quarter while Mills scored 16.
The Dons’ loss gave Mills their first conference win of the season and forces the Dons to keep fighting for their CCS playoff spot. Patton was unsatisfied with his team’s efforts.
“We didn’t play well, individually or collectively,” Patton said.
The Dons’ varsity basketball team is in a crucial late season surge. After a three-game losing streak, the Dons bounced back by winning two out of three of their last games, including a 94-87 double overtime win over the Capuchino Mustangs (13-7 overall, 4-4 PAL)*.
The Dons went against three top four teams in the PAL, and in all three of those games the Dons lost by no more than 10 points. The Dons learned a lot through these games and have kept a positive attitude for the rest of the season.
“The last three games were against really good teams,” Yoo said. “Moving forward, we’re gonna start winning games.”
The Dons hope to build on their current momentum and look forward to advancing to the playoffs.
“Those opponents walked away with a newfound respect of what Aragon basketball is about”
“We can’t take our foot off the gas,” said sophomore guard Jacob Ruttenberg. “[We have to] make CCS so we can have a playoff run for all our seniors.”
Patton was proud of his team throughout their rough mid-season skid because they showed their grit and strong determination throughout the games.
“The boys battle,” Patton said. “Those opponents walked away with a newfound respect of what Aragon basketball is about: that we don’t quit [and] we fight through deficits.”
The Dons are looking to bounce back from their loss to Mills and advance to the CCS playoffs. Their next game is at home against Hillsdale (9-13 overall, 5-5 PAL)* on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.
*Records as of Feb. 7
