TEMECULA – In a turn of events that is sure to linger in the minds of Golden Bear basketball fans for quite some time, Temecula Valley High School fell to George Washington Prep in a conclusion shaped with controversy from the very start. The game, which occurred on Tuesday, Feb. 27, during the opening round of the CIF State Boys Basketball Division IV Championships, ended with a score of 66-65 in overtime.

The clash between the two teams started 15 minutes late due to a faulty rim, and once it got going, was nothing short of dramatic. The score would swing back and forth until the final buzzer. After just winning a CIF Southern Section Division 4A title four days earlier, the Golden Bears, brimming with the hope of advancing further in the championships, found themselves up by three points with a mere 11 seconds left on the clock.

Admin from Temecula Valley work vigorously to fix a broken rim prior to the start of the Golden Bears game against George Washington Prep in the opening round of the CIF State Division IV playoffs. Valley News/Time Stood Still Photography

In a desperate attempt to grasp victory, George Washington Prep shot for a three-pointer but missed, only to rally with a successful follow-up shot as the clock ticked down, ultimately hitting zero with the buzzer sounding. With the gymnasium erupting into chaos, believing their team had secured a triumph with a score of 63-62, Temecula Valley’s student section stormed the court. However, in a chilling moment, the referees made the call that George Washington Prep had managed to request a time-out with 0.03 seconds remaining.

Adding to the melee, the premature court invasion by Temecula fans resulted in a technical foul against the Golden Bears bench, which led to a free throw opportunity for George Washington Prep — subsequently sending the game into overtime. The additional minutes of play solidified George Washington Prep’s victory at 66-65, dashing the historic run that Temecula Valley might have hoped for.

“The Superintendent and I have appealed the decisions the referees made last night,” stated Temecula Valley Athletic Director, John Harney. “We are hoping that CIF will make the appropriate corrections as we believe the referees took the game out of the players’ hands.”

The controversy lies not within the fervent efforts of both teams, but rather in the decision made by the officials. With George Washington’s coach calling for a time-out before the technical foul could have been warranted, many argue that this could have either neutralized the court-storming or at least justified a warning instead of an immediate penalty.

This incident echoes a recent event where a Duke basketball player was injured during a court storming by Wake Forest fans, spotlighting the potential dangers and consequences of such actions in the world of sports. Perhaps the referees had that fresh on their minds and took matters into their own hands against Temecula Valley.

“I was watching the game on NFHS network inside my car,” says George Washington Prep Athletic Director, Ahmad Mallard. “I dropped my phone thinking we lost when Temecula stormed the court. My eyes were irritated and the pain of losing a close game started to sink in. I didn’t find out we won until later that night when I got a text from Coach Marshall. I looked at Max Preps and rushed back to NFHS to see the rest of the video. I’m still in shock.”

Temecula Valley fans prepare to storm the court after hearing the buzzer sound at the end of regulation time. Valley News/Time Stood Still Photography

Videos showcasing different angles of the play in question have been running rampant online (unfortunately our website doesn’t support video, or we would have it posted here). The online chatter from social media has also brought about plenty of different viewpoints supporting both sides. Temecula Valley lodged a formal protest with the CIF State offices, who denied the request less than 24 hours later, never issued a formal statement. George Washington Prep went on to defeat Westchester 61-57, but then fell to Chatsworth 74-69 in the semifinals.

“It’s just really frustrating and we thought the ref mishandled the situation,” says Temecula Valley head coach James Profit. “I hurt for my boys, but I’m extremely proud of them in the same breath. Their growth and love for the process was amazing this year.”

Despite the contentious end for Temecula Valley, standout plays included Fabian Ruiz’s six three-pointers totaling 18 points, Freshman Jeremiah Profit‘s contribution of 14 points, and Liam Hodgkinson’s 13 points, including three scores from downtown. On the opposition, George Washington Prep’s Raymond Thomas matched up with 18 points, and Dewayman Martin led the Generals with 20 points.

The aftermath of this game leaves the basketball community with mixed emotions and unresolved questions. As of now, George Washington Prep advances in the state playoffs, while Temecula Valley reflects on a game and a moment in history that was abruptly and controversially halted. Brackets can be followed by visiting www.cifstate.org.

*Photographers David Canales and Scott Padgett both contributed info and stats for this article. 

**Updates can also be sent by email at sports@reedermedia.com.

JP Raineri
JP Raineri

JP is an award-winning multimedia journalist, and head of the Sports Department for the Valley News. Over his time in the Temecula Valley, JP, a former Southwestern League head baseball coach, was also an on-air radio personality at Q103.3, KATY 101.3, Hot 103.9, and was a television host for the Outdoor Channel. When not covering local, or national sports, JP also serves as an Associate Baseball Scout with NSR.