Portola boys basketball team in contention for a CIF playoff berth in first varsity season

Portola’s junior guard Robert Giraldy (in street clothes), out injured Thursday, roots on his teammates during introductions.

It’s a critical week for Portola’s boys basketball team which is at the .500 mark in its first varsity campaign and contending for a CIF 4AA playoff berth with two weeks left in the regular season.

Coach Brian Smith’s team is 12-12 overall and in third place in the Pacific Coast League with a 3-3 mark entering Wednesday’s match-up with University at Uni.

The Bulldogs also host league-leading Northwood on Friday night.

“It’s been a roller coaster especially with us being new with varsity,” Smith said. “We’ve had some highs, we’ve had some lows. But they’ve battled every single game, so I’m very proud of the kids. We still have a few more games to go so hopefully we can get some momentum going into these last four games.”

Portola has a shot at a playoff berth if it can maintain a .500 record.

“That would be good for the program. and the school to get a team into the CIF playoffs, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Smith said.

Portola pulled off an upset last week, defeating Beckman, which was in a tie for first place with Northwood, 66-60. Beckman was without two starters, including its star guard Dylan Thoerner, who had the flu. The loss knocked Beckman into second place and put Northwood alone at the top.

To see the story of that game, please click here

Portola was without one of its top players, junior guard Robert Giraldy, who was injured in a collision during the Woodbridge game two nights earlier.

“He busted three of his teeth,” Smith said. “They were pushed back and he had to have oral surgery Tuesday night so they said he is out five to six weeks. He’s kind of the heart and soul of our team so to have those other guys rally around him was big.

“They were able to save all of them (his teeth). He’s a tough kid. He was at school the next day taking finals. I think he’s got a better smile now than he did before.

Other top players have included Mohsen Hashemi, who had 27 points against Beckman, junior guard Jeffrey Chen and junior forward Shoma Doherty.

“They compliment each other pretty well so it’s a good nucleus of kids,” he said.

In addition, sophomore Tyler Huang, in his first game on varsity, had 13 points against Beckman.

“I just pulled him up from the JV,” Smith said. “He’s been preparing for this the last two years he’s been here, so he took full advantage of his opportunity.”

The focus later in the week will turn to the game on Friday vs. Northwood.

“That’s like our game of the month so that’s going to be a big game,” Smith said.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com