The boys basketball team started their 2022-2023 season with nine straight wins, including their most recent 84-40 victory against Long Beach Jordan High School. The team looks to continue their win streak and make a playoff run as they did last yearwhen they finished runners-up in the CIF Southern Section Open Division Championship.

Before the season, Max Preps listed the boys basketball team as second in California and 13th in the nation.

Guard Robert Hinton ’24 said the rankings do not change the team’s approach to the season and they are ready to compete regardless.

“I don’t think it adds any pressure at all,” Hinton said. “If anything, it makes us want to be even better knowing that people are putting teams ranked above us. I do believe that our ranking does make teams more determined to beat us because all teams want to beat whoever is at the top.”

Basketball Program Head David Rebibo said that he is not bothered by their rank, as the team is only focused on themselves and their performances.

“We don’t look at rankings, we are focused on getting better and maximizing each day,” Rebibo said. “We understand there are rankings and we appreciate the notoriety, however, the end of the year finish is what we think about.”

In the Mission League, the team will face past rivals Notre Dame and Sierra Canyon, which recently joined after leaving the Gold Coast League.

Hinton said he is specifically looking forward to the team’s rematch against Corona Centennial, which they lost to in the finals of CIF Southern Section Open Division Playoffs.

“I look forward to everything this season,” Hinton said. “Knowing how fast my first two years have gone by, I am trying to take in and enjoy every game I can. I think our team is definitely looking forward to playing Corona Centennial because they are a team we have faced many times in the past couple years, and were also the ones who beat us in the championship last year. We want to show how much we have grown and become better as a group.”