By Marcus Hunt
(Photo by Emma Czerwinski)
Eddie Austin, 12, led the team with 18 points along with 12 points from Travis Bowman, 10, in the heartbreaking 83-56 men’s varsity basketball playoff season conclusion Wednesday night.
Coronado came in confident with a record of 13-12, holding the second seed (Southeast League) in the playoff contention and the crucial home court playoff advantage, but the Valley Vikings 21-6, with the third seed out of the Northeast League, had other plans.
The first quarter ended close, with Valley leading only by four points at the score 18-14. Coronado trailed from afar 40-24 at the half after Valley’s second quarter offensive explosion leaving the Cougars in the dust. The margin continued to expand with a score of 64-36 at the end of the third quarter. The final score of 83-56 sealed the fate of men’s varsity basketball, knocking them out of the first round of the playoffs, ending their state-bound season prematurely.
“The better team won. Valley was definitely the better team tonight, but we played with a lot of heart, and it was just one of those nights when our shots weren’t falling for us,” Austin Morgan, starting senior shooting guard, said.
Failing to make the playoffs last year, this season’s success in league play and playoff berth is definitely a step in the right direction for Coach Jeff Kaufman and men’s basketball.
With eight returning players next year, Coronado looks to build upon this year’s accomplishments in the time to come.
