In a season of sheer domination, the Poly boys’ basketball juggernaut stands at 15-7 overall and 3-0 in league play. The Panthers have had some tremendous victories this season, including dominant wins over New West Charter, where they won 87-22, an astounding 65-point margin. If the rest of the season continues as it has been going so far, the Panthers can expect a strong playoff run.
Thus far, Poly has been winning its league games by an astounding average of 29 points, indicating total control throughout games; it’s not close games or lucky shots, but consistent blowouts that highlight superior talent, strategy, and depth. The average high school basketball game has a 10-15-point margin. Yet this success hasn’t come easily—it’s forged in the fire of relentless dedication, as senior shooting guard Dylan Truoung affirms: “Everyone is very dedicated to getting better and showing up every day to give their best.” That grind has unlocked rare versatility across the roster, allowing Poly to adapt and overwhelm opponents.
Junior small forward Buddy Hall credits many of the team’s victories to their strong defense: “We all try very hard on defense and all know how to execute our different roles. We are all aggressive rebounders and take pride in our defense.” The defensive impact has been evident in shutout wins over teams such as EF Academy and Rio Hondo, where Poly allowed only 27 and 33 points, respectively.
Poly recently hosted their second Pack the Haus night on Friday, January 16, where the team faced off against Flintridge Prep. The Poly boys basketball team started off red-hot, forging an early lead with explosive offense that energized the overflowing bleachers. Flintridge Prep mounted a strong comeback, narrowing the gap through relentless pressure, but in the fourth quarter, junior guard Alex Teng scored a series of crucial points, hitting from beyond the arc and driving strongly to the basket to secure the win.
Part of the crucial 4th quarter comeback was the team’s mentality. Eric Yuan, sophomore guard, captured Head Coach Brad Hall’s mindset perfectly, sharing, “Our coach said to just ignore the crowd and play our game and try to ignore the fans.” That said, the hype and energy from the stands played a major role in the team’s 58-41 point win.
Despite the team’s many successes this season, several players suffered injuries. Dylan Truong said, “For certain time periods, we’ve had quite a few serious injuries from valuable players that disrupted our flow in practice and games.” These setbacks have hurt, yet they’ve unlocked hidden depth—six different players have stepped up as leading scorers across games this season, turning adversity into Poly’s signature versatility.
All in all, Poly boys’ basketball has great potential for a memorable playoff run this season. Their dedication, chemistry, and consistency have primed them well for a great campaign in the Prep league.
