The boys basketball team reached the Southern Section Division V-A semifinals, the deepest it has ever gone in the postseason.
By Sam Rubinroit / Special to The Malibu Times
The Malibu High School boys basketball team ended its successful postseason run Friday when the sqad lost 64-58 to Rosamond High School in the semifinal round of the CIF Southern Section Division V-A playoffs. The game, played at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, was a nail biter until the final two minutes.
Even with their loss, the Sharks, under first-year head coach Jack Pollon, had a remarkable season. Their reaching the postseason semifinals is the furthest a Malibu basketball squad has ever gone. Also, the team’s 20 wins is a school record. The Sharks performed so well this season that they are moving up a division next year to invite a more challenging 2008-09.
After falling behind 8-0 in the opening minutes on Friday, Malibu closed the gap to finish the first quarter down 16-13, and went into the half trailing by only three points at 32-29. By the third quarter, the Sharks had closed the gap to one point, only to see Rosamond hit a key shot and make a contested lay-up. After another Sharks’ score, the third quarter ended with Rosamond up 51-47.
In the final period with just two minutes left, the Sharks made consecutive baskets to narrow the deficit to two at 60-58. However, Rosamond was able to hang on to the lead by making all their final shots, pulling out the victory, 64-58.
For the Sharks, four players accounted for all 58 of their points, with seniors Ryan Walczuk and Chris Peck leading the team with 24 and 18 points, respectively, and sophomores Chandler Abbott and Ben Rotman contributing 12 and four points, respectively.
For Rosamond, seven players contributed to their 64 points, with four of them in double-digits.
Even coming off a loss, the Sharks’ players and coaches are not at all disappointed with the way their season turned out.
“No, I have no regrets at all,” Pollon said. “Sure, it hurts to lose, but this group of guys is the greatest I’ve ever been around in basketball. I’m really happy about the season, the greatest season in Malibu basketball history.”
The game against Rosamond marked the final game for seniors Walczuk, Peck, Nate Schoenbrun, Marcus Robbins, A.J. Dorn and James Hunter. However, there is optimism about next season, with young talent like sophomores Chandler Abbott, Shya Mousavipour, Ben Rotman and Ben Apstein, and juniors Derek Helm and Mario Johnson returning next year.
“We’re looking forward to next year, because we have six guys from this team coming back, three starters, sophomores, they’re going to be with us for two more years,” Pollon said. “So Malibu basketball is alive and well.”
Walczuk added, “I think that this season will really help them to build off of, hopefully to give them confidence to become a legitimate program.”
Last Thursday, the Sharks’ boys varsity soccer team saw their season end with a 4-0 loss to Animo Leadership in the quarterfinal round. The squad had advanced to the quarterfinal round after beating Laguna Blanca (3-0) and Buckley (4-1). The Sharks’ loss to Animo came on a one-sided first half, when they fell behind by four goals. Although the Sharks held their opponent scoreless in the second half, they were unable to overcome the huge deficit.