On March 2, 2024, the Moorpark College men’s basketball team’s illustrious 2023-2024 season came to an end.
The Raiders played hosts to the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles in the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association regional playoffs. The home team, who had earned a No. 8 ranking in the region, had the luxury of a first-round bye.
The visiting Eagles traveled to Moorpark College ranked No. 9 in the region, averaging 94 points per game and boating a record of 26-3. If the Raiders wanted to keep their championship dreams alive, they would need to play their best basketball from tip-off to the final buzzer.
Their best basketball is just what the Raiders showed in the first half. Out of the gates, the offense was rolling. A connection was established early between the starting Jordan Torres and Jamaal Unuakalu. Two alley-oops from freshman Torres to the newly-crowned Western State Conference defensive player of the year Unuakalu energized the crowd.
The No. 8 and No. 9 seeds would trade jabs throughout the first half. It was evident that the match would be a showcase of incredibly talented offenses. The defense would have to take advantage of any and every opportunity that came their way.
As the final seconds of the first half ticked off the clock, the scoreboard would read 50-50. Moorpark was shooting well, posting a 58% field goal percentage, but Mt. San Jacinto entered the break shooting an impressive 41% from three-point range themselves. A tie going into halftime in a second-round playoff game is phenomenal, but one team would need to separate down the stretch to advance.
The heavyweight slug-fest that was the first half continued through the early goings of the second period. In a game that featured six ties and seven lead changes, the momentum would finally swing in favor of one team.
The visiting Eagles clawed their way to a 13-point lead with eight minutes left to go. As the Moorpark offense stuttered, the strong shooting of Mt. San Jacinto did not seem to miss a step.
The Raiders had proven time and time again this season that they were not a team that would lie down in the face of adversity. Just as they have all year, the team rallied late. WSC North First Team All-Conference freshman guard Kenji Cooper added to his 21-point night scoring four and logging a steal in consecutive possessions.
A sensational steal by the El Camino product Clark Holden set up a Torres jump-shot that worked the deficit down to five points with just under a minute left in the game. A quick two-pointer from the visitors did not deflate the Raiders, as First Team All-Conference guard Avi Halpert brought the ball up the court and laced a three-pointer.
With a score of 84-88, the season would come down to the last 47 seconds. The home atmosphere was electric, and the tension was palpable. Every second would count, and one miscue from either team could be the dagger that sends them home for the year.
Moorpark’s tenacity and hunger were evident from the opening tip to the final second of the game, but it was not enough to overpower the resilient No. 9 seed Eagles. The Raiders would ultimately fall to Mt. San Jacinto, with a final score of 94-86.
After the game, heavy emotion could be seen on the faces of every player and coach, who worked so incredibly hard all year to get to where they were. WSC North MVP, sophomore Jack Benyshek, offered something that he felt thankful for after a long, emotional season.
“Just coming to practice every day and seeing my teammates’ faces is something I’ll miss a lot, laughing with each other. We really grew as a family this year,” the standout guard said. “I’ve created friendships that will last beyond basketball, and that’s what I’m most grateful for.”
Benyshek’s teammate, Unuakalu, also shared something that he will take with him, and look back on fondly, as he looks to transition to the next level.
“Everything we did as a team. Team bonding is something that I think we did differently from last year. This year we were really close with each other. I could talk to any one of [my teammates] for hours. It felt like an actual family.”
Another member of the team that places immense importance on brotherhood and fraternity is WSC Coach of the Year, head coach Keith Higgins. Higgins shared a message to his sophomores, who gave two years of their careers to the team.
“Thank you. I appreciate everything they’ve done. They set the foundation and I think we are going to be really amazing next year because of them.”
The second-round playoff loss may not have been on the Raiders’ list of goals for the year, but that does not come close to discounting the incredible season that it was.
With a final record of 22-7, an 11-1 record in conference play, their first Western State Conference championship in eight years, and a CCCAA playoff berth; the 2023-2024 Raiders men’s basketball team is a success story. Four WSC All-Conference First Team nods are not too shabby either.
As the curtains closed on a season for the record books, Higgins gave a glimpse into his unflagging mentality when asked about next year’s squad.
“I’m going to get started tomorrow,” Higgins said.
