The longest winning streak in the county came to an end at 13 games Feb. 7 with an overtime loss at home to division rival Wootton, 68-57. The team had a six-point lead with a minute and 18 seconds left in regulation. Wootton tied it up with two three-pointers in the final minute and had the edge in overtime.
Before the loss to Wootton, CHS beat Richard Montgomery Feb. 4 at home in a 58-34 slaughter, which improved its win streak to 13 games. This was the longest win streak the CHS basketball team has had since 1978. The loss to Wootton moved the Bulldogs record to 15-3, but the team still makes history for one of the greatest starts in the program’s history.
“We need to focus on playing hard defense, rebounding and ball handling to get on track and be prepared for the upcoming playoffs,” head coach Matthew Miller said. “It was very special to win 13 games in a row, but we need to stay focused.”
The win over Richard Montgomery moved the Bulldogs to 10-0 in the 4A-West Division and clinched them the division title. Richard Montgomery was outscored by 12 in the first quarter, with senior Jesse Simon leading the Bulldogs with 16 points in the blowout victory.
“Keys to the Richard Montgomery game were we played solid defense and everyone chipped in,” junior Christian Bonaparte said. “[Juniors] George Nichols and Louis Rothstein came in with energy off the bench, which gave us a big help.”
Junior Quan Gill sparked the offense adding eight points off the bench. He also contributed to the smothering defense CHS played, forcing 26 turnovers.
“Everybody came ready to play with lots of enthusiasm,” Miller said. “We accomplished one of our main goals—to win the division.”
CHS has defeated each team in the division at least once, including impressive wins at Wootton by one point, at Northwest by 22 points and at home against Whitman by 19 points.
“To make history feels amazing in my senior year,” senior captain Jordan Bass said. “We have to take this season one game at a time and come to play hard every game.”
The Bulldogs won by double digits in the last four games of the win streak, including an 11-point victory over Walter Johnson Feb. 1. Junior Sam Edens scored his high school career high in the game with 19 points, and Bass added 14 points as CHS proved to be the better team.
“We still have room for improvement,” Bass said. “In order to keep getting better we have to practice hard, clean up our turnovers and box out defenders since we gave up too many offensive boards.”
Senior captain Will Lewis, who suffered a broken ankle for most of the season, entered the game Jan. 31 against B-CC at home to a standing ovation for his first appearance of the season. He scored five points in the game which helped give his team a dominant 61-35 win.
“It feels amazing to be on the court again,” Lewis said. “The doctors said it would be impossible to play this season, but with help from the school and physical therapy, I feel like I’ve defied the injury.”
