PHOTOS: Trabuco Hills battles but falls short against Colony in CIF Division 4 final

Jonah Silver of Trabuco Hills drives to the basket late in Friday’s game against Colony. (Photos courtesy John Luciano, For OC Sports Zone).

Despite a valiant effort, Trabuco Hills High School’s boys basketball team fell to Colony High of Ontario 51-44 in the CIF Division 4 championship game Friday night at Azusa Pacific University. 

Colony (20-12) earned its first CIF boys basketball championship since 2019. Trabuco Hills (20-13) was attempting to win its first CIF boys basketball title since 1993. 

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Fende Thomas led Colony with 13 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and Deshawn Deloach scored 11 points. Jayden Millender also had 10 rebounds for Colony.

Devon Williams led the Mustangs with 13 points and nine rebounds. Ryan Hull had nine rebounds and seven points for Trabuco Hills. The Titans won the battle on the boards by a 43-34 advantage, including 18 offensive rebounds. 

“They were physical and they made it difficult for us,” said Trabuco Hills Coach Sean Sullens. “Colony played a tough half court game and we couldn’t seem to cut their lead to under six points in the second half. They out rebounded us and that made a difference.”

Colony has won nine consecutive games and 12 of their last 13 games. Trabuco Hills had won six consecutive game entering Friday’s championship game.

The Mustangs jumped out to 5-0 lead in the opening quarter but were then outscored 13-2 over the final 4:35 of the period and trailed 13-7 after eight minutes of play. 

The Titans continued to pound the boards and play aggressively in the second quarter and increased its lead. Dayvon Lewis’ offensive rebound and put-back basket at the 4:38 mark of the second quarter gave Colony a 22-10 lead. Millender added a late basket and the Titans led 28-17 at the half.

The Titans shot only 26.5 percent (9-34) in the opening half but outrebounded the Mustangs 23-17 in the first half. Colony pulled down 12 offensive rebounds in the opening half.

Trabuco Hills shot 30 percent (6-20, and 1-7 behind the arc) in the first half and committed eight turnovers. Colony only turned the ball over once in the opening half and its bench outscored the Mustangs 8-0 in the first 16 minutes of the game.

Trabuco Hills cut the lead to 46-40 on a basket and a free throw by Isaiah De Lorez with 3:17 to play but only managed to score on two of its final seven possessions.      

Despite the loss, Trabuco Hills guard Jonah Silver said it has been a rewarding season. Both Trabuco Hills and Colony advance to the CIF So Cal Regionals next week.

“It was a great bounce-back season from last year,” said Silver, who had seven points and and five rebounds. “We had a number of players come up from JV and played a key role. The heart of our team was our defense. It was a great season.”  

Notes:

—The Mustangs defeated Chino, Saugus, Blair (three overtimes) and Norte Vista in the first four rounds of the playoffs while Colony defeated Beckman, South, Walnut, and Shalhevet in its first four playoff games to reach the finals. 

—Trabuco Hills finished second in the Sea View League this season and Colony finished second in the Hacienda League this season.