Palisades Falls to Bakersfield Christian in a Close Match

Palisades Dolphins Fall Short Against Bakersfield Christian in Close Regional Final

In a nail-biting conclusion to their season, the Palisades Dolphins narrowly lost to Bakersfield Christian, 59-57, in the Southern California Regional Division II final on Tuesday evening. Moments after celebrating their City Section Open Division title, EJ Popoola proclaimed the team’s ambitions were far from over. "We can play with anyone in the state," said the 6-foot-6 junior wing.

The Dolphins, seeded eighth with a record of 23-12, fought valiantly against the host Eagles, but Jack Levey’s half-court attempt fell short as the buzzer sounded. The team was seeking to advance to the state finals for the first time, which would have paired them with the girls’ team that earlier secured the Division IV regional title with a decisive 54-38 victory over Godinez.

Levey, who topped the City in three-pointers this season, scored 21 points for Palisades, hitting six three-pointers during the game. OJ Popoola contributed 20 points, while EJ Popoola and Phillip Reed Jr. added seven and six points, respectively. Despite leading after the first three quarters, the Dolphins faced a formidable challenge from Bakersfield Christian.

Taiwo Daramola emerged as the driving force for the Eagles, scoring 28 points, including a crucial basket and free throw that gave his team a 58-57 lead with 43 seconds remaining. After EJ Popoola’s missed attempt from beyond the arc, Daramola secured the rebound and was intentionally fouled, converting one of two free throws with just five seconds left in the game.

With time running out, Palisades attempted to rally. They inbounded the ball to Levey, who found himself trapped near the sideline and was forced into an off-balance shot that ultimately did not find the mark.

"The plan was to get it in our best shooter’s hands… we wanted to get Jack going downhill, but they did a good job trapping him at half-court," said Dolphins coach Jeff Bryant. This loss marked a disappointment for Bryant, who achieved the team’s first upper division City title since 1969 during his second season at the helm. "They killed us inside — we had no answer for their big man. Their matchup zone gave us problems. We couldn’t figure it out and we got stagnant."

Bakersfield Christian, with a record of 24-11, had previously faced setbacks against City teams in past regional finals but found success this time. Daramola noted, "I don’t feel pressure. My teammates trust me. Our defensive strategy on that last play was simple — don’t let them get a good look."

Despite the heartbreak, Palisades showcased skill throughout the season, including an upset against defending state champion Eastvale Roosevelt in the quarterfinals and a victory over Torrey Pines in the semifinals.