SACRAMENTO – Losing the game was hard enough for Pacifica Christian’s boys basketball team.
Knowing that Saturday was the end of their time as teammates was more difficult.
Pacifica Christian lost to San Joaquin Memorial 58-47 in the CIF State Division II championship game at Golden 1 Center.
The Tritons finished the season 27-10. The season included winning the San Joaquin League championship, advancing to the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals and winning the CIF Southern California Regional Division II championship.
Pacifica Christian was also the No. 1 team in the Orange County rankings for a time this season, the first time that has happened.
That the season was finished seemed most crushing to Pacifica Christian coach Jeff Berkoff and the Tritons players.
With the team gathered around him in the postgame interview room Berokoff asked, “The most important guy is who?”
To which the players answered in unison, “The guy next to you.”
“I’m really proud of this group,” said Berokoff, who has been the school’s boys basketball coach since the Newport Beach private school opened eight years ago. “I love these guys. I didn’t want it to be over with this group.”
Pacifica Christian struggled offensively Saturday. The Tritons made only 14 of their 45 shots, 31 percent. A long scoring lapse that started in the third quarter and bled into the fourth took them out of contention.
The Tritons had a 30-27 lead with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter. San Joaquin Memorial went on a 22-4 run from there, and had a 49-34 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Pacifica Christian was a balanced scoring team all season and was so again Saturday. Seniors Tanner Deal and Parker Strauss and sophomore EJ Spillman scored 11 points each for the Tritons.
San Joaquin Memorial (26-9) was led by 6-7 senior Mike Davis Jr., who scored 17 points and added 14 rebounds. Panthers senior guard Armari Carraway scored 13 points.
The game was a rematch, as…
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