The Temecula Valley Golden Bears propelled themselves to a commanding 76-54 victory over Santiago High School in the CIF Southern Section boys’ basketball Division 4A brackets Friday, Feb. 9. The Golden Bears have continued to fortify their reputation as a formidable force following an astounding 120-27 win against Oak Grove in the first round.
The game set off with Temecula Valley establishing a dominant lead in the first quarter, outscoring Santiago by 22-10. Although Santiago narrowed the margin slightly in the second quarter with a 16-12 run, it wasn’t enough to stifle the momentum of the Golden Bears who were leading at halftime. Energized after the break, Temecula Valley extended their lead by netting 19 points to Santiago’s 12 in the third quarter. Securing the win, they rounded off the fourth quarter impressively with a 23-16 routing.
This significant win underlines the Golden Bears’ productive season as the third-place team in the Southwestern League, boasting a 7-3 record. Overall, their portfolio this season stands strong at 16-14, demonstrating their resilience and commitment.
Looking ahead, Temecula Valley is scheduled for a riveting neutral playoff game against Cabrillo from Long on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Cabrillo, the fourth-place team in the Moore League, had a 6-6 record, and are expected to put up a challenging fight as they come into the playoffs with a 17-13 overall season record.
CIF playoff fever continues as other local Southwestern League teams gear up for upcoming battles. Crespi is set to encounter Great Oak in Division 2AA on Saturday, Feb. 10, which promises to be an exciting match-up. Adding to the fervor, Long Beach Poly will take on Murrieta Valley in what’s expected to be a close confrontation in Division 2AA on February 13.
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