Jonathan Lopez goes up for 2 of his 15 points in a win against Acaciawood at the Anaheim Convention Center. Photo Courtesy of Roger Mondragon

For the first time since 2005, the Bethel boys' basketball team is back in the CIF playoffs. By defeating Southlands Christian 78-41, Bethel clinched one of three automatic Express League berths. In the next to last CIF poll, Bethel holds the 7th spot in the rankings in division 6A. The win over Southlands gave Bethel a record of 11-9 overall, 4-2 in league, with only games remaining with Orangewood and Southlands. After missing the playoffs last year by one win, the Warriors obviously felt vindicated. This will be only Bethel's 3rd CIF playoff appearance in boys' basketball in school history (1988, 2005, and 2009).

In the win over Southlands, Bethel got hot right from the start, managing to pour in 28 first quarter points. Along the way, Bethel hit ten 3 point shots in the game. Without accurate school records being accounted, that number is probably about as many as a Warrior team has ever hit in one game. Considering the team had hit only twelve 3 point shots all year, it was definitely a noteworthy event.