Boys’ basketball (9-3) lost 41-59 in a pre-league game against Marina High on Dec. 14. The team is currently working on improving their skills before their Pacific Coast League games start. 

The game’s MVP player, according to head coach Brian Smith, is center, starter and senior Krishna Gade, who scored 18 points. The Bulldogs’ played a strong second quarter but fell short during the third and were unable to catch up to the Vikings by the fourth. 

“The last nine or ten games we’ve played, the teams we have been against have all been ranked in the top 15 or 20 in Orange County, so we knew they would be good coming in,” Smith said. “These guys are a little bit bigger, stronger and faster than some of the teams we are going to be playing in league. They play a different level of competition than what some of our teams in league play so we want to play stronger opponents.” 

The varsity team has many new members, including shooting guards and sophomores Gavin Nguyen and Bentley Nguyen, who both joined the program their freshman year. These underclassmen can get some time on the court to test out their skills, according to Smith. 

“They cheer me on; I can hear it from the bench, and they’re all hoping that I play well,” Gavin Nguyen said. “[This team is so special because] of the chemistry, and being able to play on varsity being one of the younger guys is really cool.”

The team will play four other schools at the Rancho Mirage Tournament in Palm Springs from Dec. 26-30, according to Smith. This will diversify the players the team is exposed to and strengthen the Bulldogs as a group for when they return to league games on Jan. 8, according to Smith.

“The younger guys look up to me,” captain, point guard and senior Emmett Lo said. “I’ve been playing with some of these guys since elementary school, so it’s kind of cool playing with them now.”

The Bulldogs put up a good fight and are expected to improve greatly throughout the season.

“We have 14 guys, and sometimes, it takes all 14 of us,” Smith said.