PHOTO/ Janice Wong Junior Brandan Falk (20) executes a “no look pass” to nearby junior Ethan Fung (14). Falk led all players with 26 points while teammates Fung and senior Justin Yuon (23) scored 14 and 11 points respectively.
By Ethan Lee,
Staff Writer
The boys basketball team faced off against the Monrovia High School Wildcats on Jan. 14 in a home game. With a 1-2 league record, the Rams hoped to bounce back after a tough loss to South Pasadena High School.
First Quarter
Right after the tipoff, the Wildcats scored easily, making their presence known with their significant height advantage. The Rams responded with several attacks to the basket, resulting in junior Brandan Falk getting fouled and making two free throws for the Rams’ first points.
With a 3-pointer, the Wildcats pulled ahead to a 5-2 lead, but 3-pointers by seniors John Dang, Justin Yuon and Ivan Li kept the Rams competitive. The teams went back and forth as the Rams finished the quarter with a narrow 16-15 lead.
Second Quarter
The Rams stayed aggressive in the second quarter, with junior Colin Lam and Falk leading the way. Lam made 1 of 2 free throws after drawing a foul, while Falk kept up a dominant performance, scoring 12 of his team’s 13 points in the quarter. However, a flurry of shots by the Wildcats led to an unanswered eight-point run, resulting in a timeout by the Rams. Both teams scored a total of 13 points in the quarter, with the Rams ahead 29-28 by halftime.
Third Quarter
The home team started off the second half with a quick corner 3-pointer by sophomore Ethan Fung and a layup by Yuon, setting the pace for the quarter. The Wildcats attempted to match the Rams’ hot start, but another 3-pointer by Fung led to the Wildcats’ first timeout in the second half.
The visiting team returned to the court with two 3-pointers, but a contested left-handed layup by Falk caused the crowd and the Rams’ bench players to erupt with excitement. Yuon hit his second 3-pointer of the quarter with less than a minute on the clock, igniting more energy into the stands. Soon after, a steal by Dang and free throws by Falk extended the Rams’ lead to seven at 49-42, closing out their best offensive quarter of the game.
Fourth Quarter
The Rams looked to prevent a comeback from the Wildcats with stellar defense and quality offensive possessions in the last eight minutes. Fung continued to rack up points, breaking through the Wildcats defense with a layup and a 2-pointer, widening the gap to nine points. The Rams elevated their defensive intensity, with Dang recording another steal to set up a fastbreak layup for Lam.
A couple of possessions later, Yuon dived for a loose ball, tapping it to Fung for a breakaway layup and a 15 point lead. The Rams’ defense held the Wildcats to only ten points in the fourth quarter, handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season with a final score of 66-52. This was the Rams’ first victory of the season at home.
The Rams played without two members and were in danger of having their season canceled due to COVID-related issues.
They will play their final regular season games against South Pasadena High School and La Cañada High School at home on Feb. 2 and Feb. 4 respectively. The game against La Cañada High School will also be the annual Senior Night with a ceremony before tipoff.