Written by Reese Skutvik '28

On Wednesday, January 7, 2025, the Tritons took down the Pacifica Santa Monica Seawolves 71–41 in a sister-school matchup. Fueled by a motivating home crowd, the Tritons were able to remain calm and smart as they made plays on offense and dominated on defense. Playing with stability, they conquered the court by ending the first quarter ahead 16–12, then remained in control by closing the third quarter with a 53–36 lead.

Every single player contributed to this important win for the Tritons. From cheering on the bench to controlling and calculating every move on the court, everyone played a part. The Pacifica Christian OC boys' basketball team consists of many talented players, but a few stood out in this rivalry. Michael Noel, Donovan Hogan, Joaquin Rigdon, and Solomon Huang showed up and balled out in this battle.

When each player stepped foot on the court, they devoted their time and focus to the game. On the offensive side, many sophisticated and tricky plays were run to throw off the opposing team. Joaquin Rigdon was a key contributor on both ends of the floor, recording 14 points and 4 rebounds while playing strong defense. His consistency from the three-point line did not go unnoticed, as his deep shots helped the Tritons gain momentum and continue scoring.

Along with Joaquin, Michael Noel established his dominance as a player. His ability to own the key by pulling down 7 rebounds showed his skill and awareness. After making an impact on defense, he completed his job by scoring 14 points on offense.

As the Seawolves came out of halftime with high energy, the Tritons quickly shut them down. Solomon Huang finished with 5 assists, showing great court vision as he found teammates for easy buckets. Another standout player who helped bring the team together was Donovan Hogan. Donovan made the right plays during crucial moments, scoring 11 points and grabbing 7 rebounds to lead the team to success.

The Tritons showed their court intelligence while battling hard to earn another win. The Tritons return home for their next game on Saturday, January 17, at 6:00 p.m. - be sure to mark your calendars!