In a dramatic finish on Friday night, the boys varsity basketball team (19-5) achieved a nail-biting 69-68 overtime victory against the Carlsbad High School Lancers (17-5), extending their home winning streak to five games. Senior Karel Novy (12) sealed the deal by sinking the game-winning shot, capping off an intense game.
“I think that game to us really proved we have something special going here and we’re just going to ride that magic all the way to the end,” Novy said.
The Falcons, now 19-5 this season, leaned on the stellar play of team captain, Cody Shen (12), who delivered a career-best performance. Shen was nearly unstoppable, making 15 of 20 shots taken and finishing with a game-high 36 points along with three steals. His offensive technique helped the Falcons remain competitive throughout the game, especially during key moments when Carlsbad threatened to take control.
“The team did great throughout the game,” Shen said, “We knew they were going to come out strong considering how good they are, but the whole team never faltered and everyone did what they needed to do to get the win.”
Carlsbad didn’t go down without a fight, pushing the game into overtime with accurate shooting and strong defensive plays. The Lancers won three straight games leading up to Friday’s showdown; they are among the top-ranked teams in the state. However, it was the Falcons resilience that made the difference in the final seconds.
Varsity boys basketball assistant coach and English teacher Jacob Gilliam (‘17) reflected on the game and is content with the teams performance.
“We are very proud of our ball club for how complete of a ball game we played,” Gilliam said. “We were engaged, coordinated and competitive for 36 minutes. It was particularly cool to have the fans, community, and Cardinal Chaos cheering us on.”
Looking ahead, the team has some important matchups on the horizon. The Falcons will host Vista High School (10-13) on Wednesday at 7 p.m., entering the game with a solid offensive rhythm, averaging 65.3 points per game.
With CIF Division I playoffs approaching, this win serves as a crucial momentum boost for the Falcons. If Friday’s game was any indication, fans can expect more thrilling action from both squads in the coming weeks.
“Our goal for the remainder of the season remains the same; continue to improve everyday so we are playing our best basketball at the end of the season,” Gilliam said.
