It has a been a long, challenging, and exciting season for the Foothill boys’ basketball team, a season reflected well in its final game: the second round of the CIF State Championships featuring the number one seed in Division V, the Rolling Hills Preparatory High School Huskies, and the number seven seed in Division VI, the Foothill Technology High School Dragons.

The Dragons traveled to the outskirts of Los Angeles to attempt to upset the Huskies. Though they “fought until the end,” the Dragons were ultimately defeated 48-67.

With the high intensity defense of the Huskies, the Dragons did not get off to a good start. The Huskies went on a 18-2 run in the first quarter, which Coach Dean Prophet said was “too much to overcome.”

According to Prophet, “Rolling Hills Prep played excellent defense.” As a result, Foothill struggled to score.

“We shot poorly, mostly because of the defensive pressure and lack of open looks that we usually create,” he said.

With one quarter in the books, the Dragons were trailing 7-20, but they picked it up in the next two quarters.

“We did a very nice job, once we settled down and got use to the pace of the play,” said Prophet.

The statistics reflect it, as the Dragons outscored the Huskies in both the second and third quarters. By the end of the third, they had closed the gap to nine points, but it just wasn’t enough.

In the fourth quarter, the Dragons “ran out of gas” and resorted to playing what Prophet called “the catch up foul game.” Having resorted to intentional fouls, the Dragons’ struggle to close deficit became harder and harder. They were outscored 10-20 in the fourth quarter, which sealed the deal for the Huskies.

Though the Dragons’ season technically finished with a loss, it was an overall win for the program.

“This was a season that sets a benchmark for future teams,” said Prophet. “The team worked hard and achieved a measurable amount of success.”

Prophet recognizes that this success was a group effort, not just by the players, but also by the supporters, including the student body, parents, and teachers.

With this season’s success driving the program, he hopes that in seasons to come “the culture we are trying to establish will continue to improve and develop in a positive direction.”