On the chilled night of Jan. 16, 2025, the Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) girls basketball team played cross-town rivals St. Bonaventure High School (Bonnie) in a highly anticipated league game at Foothill Tech’s home court, the Ventura College Athletic Center. Unfortunately, the Dragons found themselves on the wrong side of the game, suffering a 42-62 loss.
The first quarter started off hot as both teams vied for possession in hopes of seizing the early lead necessary to secure a win. Points were traded back and forth, with Foothill Tech’s, Kiara Zavala ‘26 finding her footing early, delivering strong performances in the paint.
Bonnie, however, fended off the Dragons’ best efforts and foreshadowed their eventual victory as the quarter concluded with Foothill Tech trailing 13-17.
Zavala shared her thoughts, stating, “I feel as a team we did really good, there were a few moments where our momentum went away … we all trust in each other, our shots just weren’t going in.”
The second quarter proved no easier for the Dragons, as the Seraphs kept the defensive pressure high, making it difficult for Foothill Tech to drive into the paint.
However, Bonnie’s aggressive style, while effective, left room for the Dragons to capitalize on several shooting fouls at the free-throw line. Notably, Foothill Tech’s Annabella “Bella” Baum ‘26 sank both of her shots from the line as the team worked to stay within striking distance.
Despite their efforts, the Dragons struggled to mount a comeback, ending the second quarter down 21-30 as Bonnie began to pull away.
Joceyln Morales ‘28 reflected on the team’s weak points and her own performance on the court, stating, “I feel like our weak points were not being able to finish and putting the ball in the hoop … I would like to work on my shooting and defense.”
Coming back from halftime, the Dragons knew the game was still within reach. Bonnie started strong, putting up several layups early in the half. Foothill Tech, however, kept the ball moving and continued to push back against the Seraphs.
With Morales getting fouled twice in the quarter and shooting 50% from the line, combined with strong defensive efforts to limit the Seraphs’ scoring opportunities, the Dragons showed resilience. Despite the pressure, Bonnie remained relentless, closing the quarter with a commanding lead of 27-44. Family and friends filled the stands with cheers as the Dragons, undeterred by the point deficit, continued to play hard into the fourth quarter. Zavala impressed with shots from beyond the arc, while Lauren Kaller ‘25 found late openings in the final quarter for hard-fought drives into the paint.
The game concluded with a final score of 42-62. Even in defeat, the Dragons displayed grace and sportsmanship as they turn their focus onto their next game on Jan. 20, against Simi Valley High School (Simi), which offers a chance at redemption for the Dragons.
