As the No. 1 seed in Division II in the Los Angeles CIF Basketball Playoffs, the Venice varsity boys’ team has started off with a three-game winning streak. The team has qualified for the championship game, which will be at Roybal High School, Friday March 4.

“My mind set is to do whatever I can to help us get the City Championship,” said Brumfield.
The third playoff game against South Gate High School, which was at John F. Kennedy High, ended with a final score of 73-66. The second round against Animo South Los Angeles with a score of 71-59. For the first round, the team played Huntington Park with a score of 49-45, the first games were at home.

According to Maxpreps’ website, last year the boys won their first game against Canoga Park 70-53, but ended the playoffs against Marshall 58-41. They made it to playoffs despite a league record of 2-10 and an overall season record of 10-22.

Knowing that if they lose, it will be the end of the season and their high school basketball careers, captain and seniors Christian Morataya and Raheem Brumfield both feel confident in their team and believe they will win the championship and have a banner hung in the West Gym.

“I want our games to be perfect so we cannot lose and not have the possibility of a last game,” sad Morataya.

Coach David Galley has viewed the playoffs differently this season, and noticed that the team as a whole has stepped up.

“The playoff games have teams that are closer to our smaller size and our faster speed, whereas the league teams are bigger and slower than us,” said Coach Galley.

Despite being the first seed, the team has struggled with particular techniques in their game.
Coach Galley and various varsity players have seen the flaws and have noted them in practices. They have struggled with slow starts in the beginning of the game, foul trouble and shooting the ball.

Yet the team is making history. If they win, they will be the very first varsity boys’ basketball team to win a City Championship.