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Heartbreaking playoff loss for Warriors’ boys basketball
Narrow loss for Orestimba against the West Campus Warriors
OHS basketball
Jacob Valenzuela (12) dribbles the ball down court as he looks for a teammate to pass to. - photo by Colby Gomes

Orestimba Warriors boys’ basketball season came to an end after a loss against West Campus Warriors, on Tuesday, 66-62. The Warriors ended their season 25-3 overall, 12-0 in league, and won the Southern League title. It was a game that left nothing on the table for the boys and competed for all four quarters.

“There is no doubt, that our guys competed all four quarters and left everything that they had out there,” said head coach Charlie Kothenbeutel.

West Campus was caught by surprise in the first half. The Warriors were able to hold the Sacramento powerhouse to an even 36-36 score by the half. Three 3-pointers in total for the night that would drain down the net from West Campuses’ Zach Villanueva (3) and would later become the game.

There with less than 5-minutes left, the Warriors found themselves at their farthest point deficit on Tuesday night at 55-59, with 4:57 left to go on the clock. But West Campus would continue to extend their lead as fouls accounted for 6-points total in the 4th period. And West Campuses’ Zach Villanueva (3) had a flurry of 10-points, 2-points being fouls. 

The Warriors were persistent till the end, matching West Campus with 11-points, but the only thing working against them was time. As regulation expired, the Warriors would officially end their season, with the end score, 66-62.

“West Campus is awesome,” Kothenbeutel commented. “I thought our game plan was sound and they just made big-shot after big-shot. They ran their stuff incredibly well. At the end of it, they hit the shots they needed to.”

There was no issue with scoring from the Warriors as Caleb Marin (10) would have a total of 14-points for the night. Devon Bell (0) would account for 11-points. Angel Reynoso (10) would score 9-points in total. 

The Warriors’ success this season was not overlooked. The Southern League title will be hung for the second consecutive season. Winning league titles in both 22-23 and 23-24 seasons. Also, in the past five seasons, the Warriors have appeared in 3 CIF SJS Section playoffs. Most importantly, there is a culture of winning that Kothenbeutel is looking forward to, though bittersweet.

“It’s heartbreaking for me as a coach, for it to end here, because how much I am going to miss this group of seniors,” said Kothenbeutel.

They gave it their all and worked with what they had. The Warriors’ chemistry, years of sticking through uncertainty, paid off. It may not have been the greatest outcome, but there’s always a new beginning after every loss. Till next season for the Warriors boys’ basketball team.