Junior Joey Fuerst led the Titans with 14 points on Tuesday night, but visiting Temple City claimed a 77-61 win, ending San Marino’s postseason hopes.
San Marino High School’s boys’ varsity basketball team entered the season with a new offense and the highest of hopes, garnering impressive wins in the run-up to league play by scoring 90 points in successive games and employing a solid defense.
But the Titans have encountered a recent drought of sorts, dropping five of their last six Rio Hondo League games and dropping out of playoff contention.
San Marino battled hard Tuesday in the penultimate game of their season, erasing a substantial first-quarter deficit against Temple City to draw within 34-30 at the half. But the fourth quarter has not been kind to coach Mihail Papadopulos’ squad, and that proved to be the case again as the Rams scored 43 points in the second half to claim a 77-61 victory, ending San Marino’s prospects for postseason play.
The Titans employed a balanced scoring attack as junior Joey Fuerst led the way with 14 points, followed by Ethan Mo, who contributed a dozen. Junior Sean O’Brien and senior Ethan Deng added 10 points apiece, with junior Lemuel Li (nine points), Trond Grizzell (five) and Brian Zhang (three) rounding out the scoring for the Titans, who dropped to 3-6 in Rio Hondo League play and 13-11 overall.
