MURRIETA – In a showdown that had the local community on the edge of their seats, the Murrieta Valley Nighthawks soared to victory against the Temecula Valley Golden Bears, clinching the Southwestern League title with a hard-fought 85-70 win. This game was not just about points on the board; it was a narrative of determination, teamwork, and the undying spirit of high school basketball.
Friday, February 2nd, marked a significant milestone for both teams, as they entered the arena with identical records (7-2) and one goal: to end the season as champions. Last year’s three-way tie for the title added an extra layer of intensity to the proceedings. Temecula Valley beat the Nighthawks in overtime 81-70 in their previous meeting back in January, but the rematch looked to be a little tougher for the Golden Bears since they didn’t have the home-court advantage this time around.
Unfortunately for Temecula Valley — who haven’t savored a championship win since 2019 and underwent a complete turnaround from their winless league performance last season — their third consecutive win away from their voyaging fanbase this season eluded them.
Murrieta Valley (18-10), bouncing back from a setback against Chaparral that ended their ten-home-game winning streak earlier this week, displayed a sterling team effort and resilience.
As the half-time buzzer declared a significant lead for the Nighthawks at 51-29, it was clear that the home team was en route to leave an indelible mark on the night and the league. The final quarter saw Murrieta Valley maintaining a comfortable lead, with their formidable offensive onslaught being paired with effective defense strategies and a game plan that was executed almost to perfection.
Behind the expert leadership of players like Jacob Casillas, who put up impressive numbers as he led all scorers with 22 points, and Parker Steffen (19 points), the player with an astounding track record this season, the Nighthawks delivered where it counted. Brady Jones and Collin Ingram chipped in 14 points and 12 points, respectively. Taj Jackson led Temecula Valley with 19 points. Jeremiah Profit and Fabian Ruiz each added 16 points for the Golden Bears.
As for the rest of the league, Vista Murrieta finished the season tied with Temecula Valley for second place in the standings at 7-3, Great Oak finished in third place with a 5-5 record, Murrieta Mesa finished in fifth place with a 2-8 record, and the Chaparral Pumas were last with a 1-9 record.
League stat leaders included Cisco Munoz from Vista Murrieta with 461 points (27 games played) and Steffen with 417 points and 61 steals on the season (27 games played). Steffen also led the league with 55 three pointers while Andrew Clyburn of Vista Murrieta drained 50. This year’s rebound leader was Donovan Ford of Vista Murrieta with 233.
As Murrieta Valley and their supporters bask in the glory of victory, the focus now shifts to the CIF Southern Section playoffs. With brackets set to be released, it’s a matter of when — not if — these athletes will showcase their prowess on an even larger stage.
The playoffs brackets for both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams were released Sunday, Feb. 4, at www.cifss.org, and the Nighthawks, Golden Bears, Vista Murrieta and Great Oak all had their season extended. Murrieta Valley will host Newport Harbor in first round action (Division 2A), Temecula Valley will travel to Oak Grove (Division 4A), Vista Murrieta will host Culver City (Division 2AA), and Great Oak will travel to Oakwood (Division 2AA).
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
