El Segundo boys basketball struggles in second half, loses to Castaic in Division 5AA final
The Eagles turn the ball over 17 times and finish just 1 of 14 on 3-pointers in the 63-52 loss to Castaic
Elijah Coles #4 of El Segundo drives to the basket against Lucas Milan #13 of Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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El Segundo walks off after Castaic defeated El Segundo 63-52 to win a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
AZUSA — For most of the first half, the El Segundo boys basketball team was able to slow the game down and get easy points at the free-throw line Friday in the CIF Southern Section Division 5AA championship game.
The top-seeded Eagles, however, never got to the line the entire second half and wound up losing 63-52 to No. 6 seed Castaic at Azusa Pacific University.
El Segundo (27-10), which was in the program’s first CIF-SS final since 2002, made 17 of 20 free throws in the first half. The loss denied the team its first section title in 61 years.
Elijah Coles #4 of El Segundo drives to the basket against Lucas Milan #13 of Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Gavin McKinnon #1 of El Segundo blocks the shot of Ethan Thomas #20 of Castaic as teammate Shane Biscaya #2 of El Segundo goes up for the ball in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Scott Martin of El Segundo reacts against Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lucas Milan #13 of Castaic drives to the basket against Elijah Coles #4 of El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Shane Biscaya #2 of El Segundo drives to the basket against Kevin Curtis #11 of Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Giovanni Guardado #24 of Castaic scrambles for the loose ball against El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ethan Thomas #20 of Castaic shoots against El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
El Segundo walks off after Castaic defeated El Segundo 63-52 to win a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ethan Thomas #20 of Castaic drives to the basket against Elijah Coles #4 of El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Scott Martin of El Segundo reacts against Castaic in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lucas Milan #13 of Castaic drives to the basket against Elijah Coles #4 of El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Shane Biscaya #2 of El Segundo blocks the shot by Giovanni Valentin #1 of Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ethan Thomas #20 of Castaic drives to the base against Gavin McKinnon #1 and teammate Shane Biscaya #2 of El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Tashaun Barron #0 of Castaic reacts after a foul in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game against El Segundo in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Giovanni Valentin #1 of Castaic drives to the basket against El Segundo in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Dominique Butler of Castaic holds up the championship plaque after defeating El Segundo 63-52 to win a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ethan Thomas #20 of Castaic drives to the basket against Gavin McKinnon #1 of El Segundo in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Giovanni Valentin #1 of Castaic drives to th basket against Shane Biscaya #2 of El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ethan Thomas #20 of Castaic rebounds against Jack Pintens #5 of El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Elijah Coles #4 of El Segundo rebounds over Kevin Curtis #11 of Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Keith Puckett #0 of El Segundo is fouled against Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Gavin McKinnon #1 of El Segundo blocks the shot by Christian Clark #2 of Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Elijah Coles #4 of El Segundo drives to the basket against Kevin Curtis #11 of Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Giovanni Guardado #24 of Castaic scrambles for the loose ball against El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Giovanni Valentin #1 of Castaic drives to the basket against El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Gavin McKinnon #1 of El Segundo reches for the rebound against Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Giovanni Valentin #1 of Castaic is fouled driving to the basket against Shane Biscaya #2 of El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ethan Thomas #20 of Castaic drives to the base against Gavin McKinnon #1 of El Segundo in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
“I thought the reality was in the second half we broke down too many times offensively and defensively,” Eagles coach Scott Martin said. “Didn’t execute our game plan and that’s what happens.”
Shane Biscaya and Darreson Naruse scored a team-high 14 points apiece and Elijah Coles added 13 for El Segundo, which turned the ball over 17 times and finished just 1 of 14 on 3-pointers.
The Eagles overcame a 4-of-15 start shooting from the field to finish 17 of 41. They made 13 of 26 shots in the second half.
Castaic (23-14), an at-large selection from the Foothill League despite going winless in 12 league contests, knocked off the bracket’s top three seeds en route to the program’s first CIF-SS championship in its first appearance.
“I’m just taking it in right now,” Coyotes coach Dominique Butler said. “I always thought that these guys were talented and hard-working enough to get to this point. But I didn’t really realize it until (the clock) hit double zeroes.”
Coyotes guard Giovanni Valentin scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Ethan Thomas added 13 points and Lucas Milan chipped in 10 for Castaic, which shot 57.1% (16 of 28) from the field after halftime.
The Eagles, who led 12-10 after one quarter, benefited from a parade to the free-throw line in the second quarter. After Biscaya’s layup opened the scoring, the Eagles’ final 11 points in the quarter came on free throws.
The production helped offset the Eagles’ 11 first-half turnovers as they took a 25-23 lead into the locker room.
“We played very slow, to be honest, so we let the game come to us (in the first half) when they brought the pressure,” Biscaya said. “The second half, they tried to speed up our game, which caused us to turn the ball over more and get quick shots and fell into their hands.”
Martin said his team was unable to use its size advantage in the post, and the combination of a tough shooting performance beyond the arc compounded the issue.
“Offensively, we had a lot of opportunities in the post,” Martin said. “So if you’re not hitting from three and you’re not looking in the post, it’s going to be a tough night.”
The lead changed hands nine times in the third quarter, with El Segundo falling behind for good on Milan’s 3-pointer to give Castaic a 45-43 with 27 seconds left. In the closing seconds of the quarter, the Eagles were then called for goal-tending and trailed 47-43 going into the fourth.
“We just stayed the course,” Butler said of a second-half turnaround that included just three of his team’s 11 turnovers.
Added Milan: “It’s very special. We went through some ups and downs and challenges, but we built our way up and here we are now.”
The Coyotes scored six of the first eight points in the fourth to bump their lead up to 53-45.
El Segundo pulled within 55-52 on a Naruse layup with 2:19 to play, but the Eagles missed their final three shots and turned the ball over once the rest of the way.
A Valentin layup down the left side of the lane through contact with 1:28 remaining sparked Castaic’s game-closing 8-0 run.
El Segundo will now turn its attention to the CIF State playoffs. Brackets will be released Sunday afternoon.
Coles said the team will apply the same mentality it used to bounce back from a loss to West Torrance en route to capturing the Pioneer League title.
“It’s not the first time coming back from a big loss,” Coles said. “So, our season is not over. Get the boys back together, get a couple practices and be ready for state playoffs.”
