The defending league champion Colony High Titans came into the gym last week with 58-straight league victories, a few shy of a state record.
But the fifty-ninth victory was far from easy due to a hard fought effort from the Tigers, who despite turnovers put the halftime score at nearly even.
Colony struggled to build a big lead through the first half when the Tigers kept the game close.
Starting senior guard and team captain Brandon Agapay led the team with his energy.
“We played with a lot of heart and motivation right from the beginning,” Agapay said.
At one point in the second quarter, the score was 26-26.
But seconds later Colony went on a 10-2 run to end the first half, making three consecutive three-point field goals.
Colony’s coach screamed at his team at the half time meeting, hoping to avoid a repeat of the first half.
Beginning the second half both teams continued to speed up the tempo, with Colony using its trademark full-court press.
The defensive pressure forced several more Chaffey turnovers, which then came in greater numbers as the game progressed.
Every time Chaffey seemed to get close, Colony’s guards made another three-point shot.
Colony led 51-36 at the end of the third quarter and began pulling away with the play of starting senior center Chris Mays.
Mays finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
After the game, Colony head coach Jerry De Fabiis said, “We picked up our defensive energy in the second half and started playing good ball.”
Coach Fabiis was confident about continuing their winning streak.
This year, the team has a chance to tie Compton ’s perennial power Dominquez High School for the third most consecutive league victories in the state.
When asked if there is any added pressure being to continuing the streak, Fabiis said, “Being the top team, there is pressure on us everyday.
“Everyone wants to knock us off.”
