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Saddleback players and head coach Christopher Emaguna (right) and assistant coach Robert Evans (left) before Thursday’s practice. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Saddleback High School’s boys basketball team has already had a memorable turnaround season, reaching the semifinals of the CIF Division 5A playoffs.
But the Roadrunners (14-13) are looking for two more wins and the first CIF championship for the program.
Pretty remarkable considering Saddleback was coming off a 6-21 season last year and a 2-26 record two seasons ago. The squad went to the playoffs this season as the fourth seed after finishing second in the Orange League.
To see additional photos, click on the first picture:
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The Roadrunners, with three playoff wins including Tuesday’s 68-61 double overtime victory over Gabrielino, have moved on to host Arroyo (14-11) Friday at 7 p.m. in one semifinal. The winner faces the winner of the other semifinal between South El Monte and Rosemead next weekend in the championship game at a location to be announced.
“It’s pretty exciting, it’s my eighth year here at Saddleback and after being 2-26 a couple years ago, it’s pretty exhilarating to see the maturity and growth of the seniors and juniors on the team,” said Saddleback Coach Chris Emaguna, now in his eighth year leading the Roadrunners. “I’m just really, really happy for those guys and their success so far.
“I think the guys have had skill, they’ve lacked experience and confidence, and that’s what the coaching staff has been trying to preach the last couple of years that they just have to believe in themselves and it’s finally turning the corner.”
It’s the first time since the 2015 season that Saddleback has reached the CIF playoffs. It’s also the best overall record for the program since the 2009 team finished 14-13.
“The school is excited and a lot of student body and admin follow us on the road, so it’s been a change and really exciting to see,” the coach said.
Saddleback is led by 6-0 junior guard Chris Trotter, who scored 44 points in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round victory in which the Roadrunners rallied from a first half deficit. Saddleback outscored Gabrielino 24-7 in the third quarter to get back in the game.
“This kid is really exciting to watch,” Emaguna said. “He’s very coachable and a very humble kid. I think he’s averaging 25 (points) on the season, he’s had a season high of 51, he had 44 in the quarterfinals the other night. I’m really excited for this young man, he was really frustrated the last couple of years, but he stuck with it and has been a great leader to the guys and really helped to inspire the school and the program to work a little bit harder to achieve what we’ve achieved so far.”
“Getting to the semifinals, first of all, means a lot to us because we’ve been together since my freshman year, that was two years ago,” Trotter said. “We went from a two-win team to a six-win team last year and now we’re a 14-win team and in the semifinals. It means a lot, not just to me, but the team.
“I couldn’t do it without these guys out here, it’s been a team effort we’ve been playing with the last couple of games. Big shout-out to Karstein (George) our big man, he has stepped up and been probably the most important player we’ve had these last couple of games and it’s really just us having each other’s back.
“We trust each other in late game scenarios, we’re in the gym all the time together, we hang out outside of school, we have a strong brotherhood that is unbreakable.”
Saddleback has some other talented starters including 5-5 senior guard Jared Quero, who has been a three-year starter.
“You talk about a leader on and off the court, this young man has been through it all, he was part of that group that was 2-26 a couple years ago, he has never wavered,” Emaguna said. “He has been a great student athlete. I think the guy has a 5.0 (GPA) right now.”
Junior Angel Soberanis, a 6-0 guard-forward, is another talented starter.
“Angel, I think, can be a pretty good player,” Emaguna said. “I think he has a shot to be one of the better shooters in the county. I’m really excited to see where he goes from here.”
George, a junior center-forward, has also contributed for the Roadrunners.
“He’s another guy who has made a huge jump from the end of the season last year, through the spring and into the summer,” Emaguna said.
“With him, it’s just a matter of confidence and understanding the pace of the game. He’s probably averaging about 10 boards in the last five or six games and he had a tremendous defensive effort to help us get past the second round, he locked down the guy in the third quarter and helped us extend the lead to make it to the quarterfinals.”
Another top player has been junior guard Steven Orellana who worked his way into the starting lineup mid-way through the season.
“He’s been really good at being a pest on defense and helping us establish our tempo on offense,” Emaguna said. “He’s also played a huge defensive role in the last few games to help us extend our season. The bench has been great and everyone has bought into the role.”
The coach, now in his 19th year of coaching, has teamed up with assistant coach Robert Evans for a special season leading a resurgence of a program that has struggled the past decade.
“It’s been a pleasure to see, I would say in my eight years this has probably been the best group on and off the court I’ve had, chemistry-wise guys will help one another with their homework, help each other in the weight room, help each other in the gym, it’s been a great thing to see,” Emaguna said.
“It’s very validating as a coach to turn a corner and start to have a player-led team.”
Emaguna believes the Roadrunners will be ready for the challenge Friday night.
“I think size-wise we match-up,” Emaguna said. “I think we match-up pretty well, it looks like it’s going to be a pretty good game, it looks like the teams are going to be switching up their styles a little bit on defense, but I think we’re built for the challenge, we’ve been through a lot in the last couple years and I think it’s real kudos to our team at Saddleback that we’ve been able to retain so much information the last couple of years.
“We have eight returning guys and next year we will have six returning guys, so I think that played a huge part in not having to start over from year to year. I think we’re ready for whatever they’re going to throw at us.”
By virtue of Tuesday’s quarterfinal round win the Roadrunners also qualified for the CIF Regionals which starts the week after the CIF Southern Section playoffs are completed.
“The boys found out earlier today, so they were really excited,” Emaguna said. “It’s going to be a cool experience for myself and the boys. It’s a new ride for everyone, so it’s going to be a fun ride to experience together.”
“Qualifying for state is a lot for us,” Trotter said. “Because a lot of people have doubted us and it’s the first time in history that we’ve ever made it to state so it’s a big accomplishment for all of us and I feel it means a lot to all of us as a group.”
Playoff run:
Defeated Legacy Prep 78-35 (H)
Defeated Aciawood Academy 55-41 (A)
Defeated Gabrielino 68-61 (2 OTs, A)
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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