Pacific Hills Boys Capture CIF Division IV State Basketball Title

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - March 24, 2013 - PRLog -- Pacific Hills, the 2013 CIF Southern Section Division 4A boys and Division IV Southern California Regional State Boys Basketball champ, completed its championship season, winning the Division IV State title on Saturday, March 23 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, CA. The Pacific Hill Bruins (29-4) faced the Cardinals (32-4) for the state champion crown.

Pacific Hills, ranked regularly in the top 10 in California for all divisions and the top 100 nationally, reached the state final by defeating Bishop Montgomery, ranked as high as #1 statewide.  Pacific Hills’ starting five includes seniors Jahmel Taylor, a University of Washington commit, Marcus Jackson, who is headed to Rice University, and Junior Namon Wright who is weighing multiple offers including UCLA and USC.

The Bruins boys basketball team returned to the state championship for the first time since 1998, when they won the school’s only state championship title.  This is the sixth trip to the state finals in boys and girls basketball in its 31 year history, quite an accomplishment for the small, independent West Hollywood school of less than 200 students that plays without its own gym.

The win caps a strong season, which began with early tournament wins against big school powerhouses Westchester, Northern California’s Deer Valley and Arizona’s Corona Del Sol.  

"The 2012-13 season was an unforgettable one. At the beginning of the year we knew we had a very talented group, and on the way we had a few bumps, but by playoff time that talented group had matured into a talented team. People think that talent alone leads to wins and championships. Coaches without talent complain that they can't win because of lack of talent. Coaches that do have talent sometimes complain that talent isn't easy to coach. I guess I'm pretty lucky to have such a talented group that wanted to be coached and I had the support of the parents to allow me to coach that talent. To be successful there has to be a connection between families, players and coaches. We at Pacific Hills are lucky to have that. I believe that the fun and family environment that the coaching staff has provided here at Pac. Hills has allowed us to be very successful," states Head Coach Ivan Barahona.

“I couldn't be prouder of the boys and coaching staff. They did a tremendous job all season long and were great role models for the students of Pac. Hills.  Everywhere we went to play all we heard was what a great group of guys we had. This is a great moment in our school’s history and I am honored to be a part of it,” added Athletic Director Steve Wysocki.

The players were proud as well.  Adam Plax, ’13 stated, "It's the best feeling to realize that I ended my high school career winning the state championship with my second family." Taj Meadows, ’15 included, "We were a team full of hard work and sacrifice."  

"Hard work and dedication got us to this point; I'm glad we've come this far. This means so much to all of us," added Seneb Holmes, ’15.  And star senior Marcus Jackson simply stated, "I love my team, and I love my school, that's my quote!”

Jackson led the team with 23 points in the 58 to 52 win, Junior Namon Wright had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, standout Jahmel Taylor finished with 14 points.

The team is led by Pacific Hills alum Ivan Barahona, now in his eighth year as head coach.

Since Coach Barahona took over the basketball program, Pacific Hills has made five appearances in the CIF Southern Section Championship: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013, winning every year except 2008 in a one point loss to LaVerne Lutheran. Coach Barahona’s overall record is 184-70, a winning percentage of 72.4%.  

While this is Coach Barahona’s first state championship game appearance for Pacific Hills as a coach, he made his first appearance at the state championship game for Pacific Hills in 1994 as a student.

Four of Coach Barahona’s Pacific Hills alums currently play college basketball for Division I schools.

After winning the CIF Southern Section title on March 2nd, Coach Barahona traveled to Costa Rica to coach the El Salvador National team to a silver medal in the Central American games, the country’s first medal in 25 years.  All the while, Assistant Coach Herman Nash led the Bruins team through the three wins to get to Saturday’s final.  Coach Barahona was back with the team for the state championship.

Pacific Hills is a WASC and CAIS accredited 6th-12th grade independent, co-educational, college preparatory middle and high school in its 31st year. Located in the heart of West Hollywood, California, Pacific Hills School educates approximately 170 students a year.