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Sports

Sharks Basketball Season Comes to an End

After some memorable highlights this season, the Malibu High boys varsity basketball team loses to Sierra Canyon in the first round of the CIF playoffs.

The Malibu High School boys varsity basketball team faced a strong Sierra Canyon team in the first round of the CIF playoffs Wednesday night, losing 53-64.

While the Sharks punched way above their weight this year, the playoffs were always going to be tough. In this first round matchup, the Trailblazers are ranked 276th in California (35th in Division 4), while the Sharks are ranked 472nd in California (60th in Division 4).

The first quarter opened with the teams trading baskets. However, the Sharks appeared nervous and continued to turn the ball over throughout the quarter, finishing with 10 turnovers in the period. First quarter highlights included one possession in which the Sharks showed great patience on offense with precision passing that led to senior guard Jack Platner (five assists) attacking the basket and dishing off an assist to junior forward Will Rosenthal for an easy layup.

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On the defensive end, after another Malibu turnover, Sierra Canyon was off on a 2-on-1 fast break, and it looked like an easy layup for the visitors. But no one informed sophomore guard Anthony Kodomichalos, who put his body on the line, stepped up and took the charge (14th for the season). This also forced Kodomichalos to the bench to seek treatment from athletic trainer Marie Zweig for a bruised knee (he later returned to the game and led a fight back in the fourth quarter).

Head coach Bobby Tenorio tried to inject some speed and vitality into the team by bringing in speedy guards—senior Patrick Fontenette and junior Andrew Yazdani. The Sharks had trouble getting into rhythm both on offense and defense, falling behind 15-8 at the end of the quarter.

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Unfortunately, the Sharks had similar troubles in the second quarter with sophomore center Justin Holmes providing the only potent offense in the period and scoring all the team's points for the quarter. However, this at least provided the Sharks with a recipe for success, and after a slow start in the first quarter, Holmes was getting deep position in the low post and was able to score easily.

Turnovers continued to haunt the Sharks and Malibu headed to the halftime breakdown down 31-17. It was a relatively poor half of basketball for the Sharks and another big crowd in the Shark Tank was expecting some form reversal in the second half.

Obviously, coach Tenorio had a lot to say to the team during the break. The season was on the line and the team was on verge of being late for the second half as the players ran onto the court just in time to avoid the ire of the referees. The Sharks obviously paid attention to the coach's halftime pep talk, with the guards—Kodomichalos and senior Kyle Sandler—attacking at every opportunity. The aggression started to pay off with the guards feeding Holmes, who scored 11 points in the quarter. In addition, the offense also lifted the defense, with the Sharks constantly harassing and slowing the Sierra Canyon offense.

While the Sharks kept on making small runs, turnovers and Trailblazer offensive rebounds allowed Sierra Canyon to weather the attack. Malibu was able to close the gap a little by the end of the quarter to be down only 41-31. Tenorio played a very short bench with senior forward Harrison Kaplan, the only player to come off the bench in the quarter, substituting in for Rosenthal. Would Malibu scratch out a comeback? The large vocal crowd started getting involved, led by the unofficial leader—senior Kfier Cohen.

The fourth quarter started with a three-point basket from Kodomichalos, but that was as close as the Sharks were going to get. Not even a three-point barrage from Kodomichalos (finishing with 10 points on three-for-four shooting from distance) could close the gap sufficiently for Malibu to make a run. Game MVP Holmes finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds. 

The loss marked the end of a memorable season for the Sharks. They beat Crossroads in double overtime, participated in the Florida tournament, finished the season 18-8, beat Bishop Diego in both encounters and became the first Malibu High boys basketball team to claim the Frontier League championship without losing a league game.

Also, we bid farewell and good luck to the team's five seniors—Patrick Fontenette, Parker Smith, Harrison Kaplan, captains Kyle Sandler and Jack Platner. We wish them well and may they use the lessons they learned on the court throughout their lives and cherish the memories of the session.

Congratulations Sharks for a great season!

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