In the first month of their seasons, both boys and girls basketball have faced both triumph and disappointment. This season, the Rio Hondo League looks incredibly competitive, and these early games have shown how the teams will fare come league play.
Starting with the girls, the opened up the season with a close battle against Riverside Prep, edging out a 48-46 win. They dropped their next three games against three very difficult opponents, all having a .500 record or better. The Saturday following Thanksgiving, the Titans downed Sacred Heart of Jesus 36-23, moving up to 2-3 on the season, but with a tournament upcoming filled with strong teams from across Southern California, that meant more difficult opponents for the Titans. Three of the four teams they faced in this tournament had winning records, and Cajon, the lone school in these four games that had a losing record, had played a brutal schedule as well, facing renowned teams such as Flintridge Prep and Crescenta Valley. “I think we learned a lot about how we play as a team and how we’ll develop through the season” said Jolene Tanihaha, 12.
One notable occurrence in these early season games was Kailey Woo, 12, getting her 1000th point as a Titan, an incredible milestone. Despite the 2-7 record, the strenuous schedule could fare well for the Titans, playing difficult opponents on par, if not better, than the opponents they will face in league play. The record does not reflect the talent of this team, and as league play approaches, that may become more apparent.
On the other hand, the boys basketball has earned themselves some impressive wins early in the season. Dominant triumphs over La Salle, Troy, and Gabrielino as well as closer wins against Workman and Hoover have propelled the Titans to a 7-3 record with all of their losses coming to teams with winning records. Led by seniors Casey Chan and Mitch Mooney, the Titans find themselves eagerly anticipating league play, with it appearing to be a four-way race for the title between Blair, La Cañada, the Titans, and South Pasadena.
Both boys and girls basketball have plenty to look forward to this season, but have faced two tremendously different starts. One hopes to continue their fortunes, while the other hopes to get better luck than what they previously had.
