TEMECULA – In an electrifying showdown the Rancho Christian Eagles faced off against the ambitious Crossroads Roadrunners Wednesday, Feb. 7, in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. The Eagles, soaring high after dominating the Ivy League with a 7-1 record, encountered turbulence in a game that had fans gripping the edges of their seats.
Rancho Christian, initially forging an early 10-point lead, felt the wind shift as Crossroads rallied fiercely, chaining a 13-3 run to a deadlock the score at halftime. With their solid season record of 18-10 on the line, star performers Yeshua Kesse-Beda (18 points), Brian Amunueke (16 points), and Jayden Smoot (14 points) poured in a combined forty-eight points, keeping hopes alive as the final quarter saw the teams locked in a thrilling neck-and-neck chase.
Yet fate had a twist in store – in the dying seconds, Rancho Christian’s bid for victory was thwarted just shy of glory. As Crossroads secured a 67-64 triumph, the Eagles’ valiant stand ended not with the swish of victory, but with a shot that heartbreakingly kissed the rim.
Other CIF Southern Section results for area teams can be found online at www.cifss.org.
