WILDOMAR — A packed crowd watched the Elsinore Tigers’ postseason run come to a dramatic end Friday night as they fell 82-80 to the Ramona Rams in the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA semifinal. The thrilling matchup saw the Tigers lose their 22-point third-quarter lead as Ramona staged a furious comeback, capped by Andrew Green’s game-winning layup with just six seconds remaining.
The Tigers came out strong, displaying dominance early on. Senior standout Nasir Bates and sharp-shooting junior Brandon Boatman guided Elsinore to a comfortable 19-8 lead late in the first quarter. Boatman’s mid-range shots and Bates’ energy carried the Tigers to a 12-point advantage at halftime, with Bates contributing six crucial points before the breakthrough jump shots and a three-pointer.
Momentum heavily favored Elsinore in the third quarter as they went on a commanding 12-2 run to extend their lead to 22 points, their largest of the game, with just 5:17 left in the period. Boatman’s smooth jumper and a key three-pointer electrified the Elsinore fans and seemed to put the Tigers firmly in control.
But Ramona wasn’t ready to end their season quietly. The Rams rallied fiercely in the third quarter, trimming the lead with an 11-4 run punctuated by Cary Moore’s buzzer-beating jumper. Heading into the final period, the Tigers’ lead had dwindled to 15.
The fourth quarter became a stage for Moore and Green to shine for the Rams. Moore, who finished with 17 points, nailed three clutch three-pointers, the last of which gave Ramona their first lead since the game’s early minutes at 80-78 with just 1:22 remaining on the clock.
Boatman, refusing to go down without a fight, responded with a cold-blooded mid-range shot to tie the game at 80. With just over a minute to go, it seemed the game might head for overtime. Elsinore’s defense tightened as they nearly forced a turnover in the final seconds, but the Rams kept the play alive. Green broke free under the basket and delivered an uncontested layup to seal the win for Ramona with six seconds left.
The loss was a heartbreaking conclusion for Elsinore, which ends its season with an impressive 22-11 record. Boatman led all scorers with 24 points, while Bates added 22. Their standout performances left no doubt about their impact on the Tigers’ remarkable playoff run.
Despite the sting of the semifinal defeat, the Tigers still have much to look forward to. Both Elsinore and Ramona move on to the CIF State tournament, which begins March 4. For the Elsinore faithful, there is still hope for the Tigers to make additional postseason noise on the bigger stage.
The Rams (26-6), meanwhile, gear up for their first section championship game since 1977, where they will face off against Garden Grove Santiago.
For now, the Elsinore Tigers will regroup, reflect on a hard-fought season, and set their sights on taking their game to the next level in the state tournament.
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