49ers Postseason Basketball: Heroism and Heartbreak

The 49ers Men’s Basketball Team has officially seen their season come to a close. Despite ending on a playoff loss to Cerritos, the team experienced a large amount of success on the year and in the playoffs.

The 49ers ended the Regular Season with a record of 23-5, winning their conference. They finished the season with a 14 game winning streak, earning a home playoff game.
On the season they were led by Freshman Elishja Duplechan, their leading scorer at 18.7 PPG and 5.2 Ast/G, and Sophomore Jeryn Lucas, who averaged 15.6 PPG and 5.5 Reb/G. Though much of their success can be attributed to their unity as a team.

“Fun, great group of guys, everyone has their own sense of humor, never a bad day,” said Lucas.

“I felt like it was a great season,” said Duplechan, “people didn’t see us winning our conference, they saw Napa Valley.”

It makes it fitting that the 49ers won their conference by defeating Napa Valley 75-72 in their final regular season home game.

The 49ers opened up with a home playoff game against Ohlone. Behind an electric crowd and a complete team effort, they won by a score of 75-60, led by Duplechan’s 19 points and 5 assists, Lucas’ 19 points and 7 rebounds, and Isaiah Bates’ 17 points, ten boards, and two blocks off the bench.

“Great feeling,” said Lucas, “the way we won was a great feeling, everyone got to play, atmosphere was great, great feeling.”

Following the win, Yuba moved on to host the College of the Sequoias in the Regional Final. At this point, Yuba was riding a 15 game winning streak, which Lucas saw as an advantage.

“Being confident, knowing what works for us, what’s best for us,” said Lucas.

Lucas also gave some keys to the game if they were going to come out on top.

“Play solid defense, keep them off the glass, those two things will give us a great chance to win,” Lucas said, as well as “knock down shots.”

Those keys came up early and often in Yuba’s game against the Giants. Both teams played at a high level for the majority of the game, going back and forth. The 49ers experienced an electric crowd, encouraged by many highlight plays.

One of these early plays was made by Sophomore Josh Dhatt. In the first quarter, Dhatt came off the bench and got an early steal. He took the ball upcourt and finished with a dunk, drawing a foul, and raising the energy and volume of the crowd.

“That was crazy,” said Sophomore Thomas Austerfjord, “it got us pumped up, got everyone pumped up, changed the momentum.”

Austerfjord himself had a vital role in the 49ers success. He finished the game with ten rebounds, and was able to draw several fouls due to boxing out in the post.

“Each player has his role, mine is to try and get loose boards,” said Austerfjord.

“Those are our hustle guys,” said Lucas of Austerfjord and Dhatt.

Lucas himself provided many highlight plays, going 5-7 from the arc leading to 18 points to go along with 7 rebounds, to go along with playing solid defense.

Lucas was mainly matched up with Giants’ guard Isaiah Johnson, who finished with 22 points on 9-23 shooting.

Johnson appeared frustrated with Lucas’ style of play from tip-off, and it culminated in a late confrontation which led to the Giants’ Kody Wilson being ejected following a double technical after a foul on Duplechan.

“That was the gameplan, play solid defense,” said Lucas.

“We always stay level-headed, we knew who their hotheads were, “ said Duplechan. “They were frustrated, knew their season was over, that’s why he shoved me.”
Duplechan added that if the roles were reversed he might have done the same thing.

The 49ers won the game 87-69, led by Duplechan’s 33 points and 9 assists. He acted as the team’s closer late in the game, scoring unconsciously and expanding the 49ers lead.

“That’s what he does, when we need a bucket we go to Elishja,” said Lucas.

“From a young age my dad told me, if the team needs a big shot, why not take it?” said Duplechan, in addition to “not leaving it in someone else’s hands,” and striving to be a “clutch player.”

Following the win in the Regional Final, the 49ers moved on to face Cerritos in the State Tournament, as one of the Elite Eight teams.

The 49ers got off to a slow start, falling behind early, trailing 37-28 at half. Despite outscoring Cerritos 49-46 in the second half, they fell 83-77, and were eliminated.

In the early going, with the team struggling, Bates kept the 49ers within striking distance, drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line, where he finished 6-9, contributing to his 12 points to go along with 10 rebounds.

Cerritos was led by Demetrious Thomas’s 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Yuba was led by Duplechan’s 26 points and Lucas’ 17 points and 9 rebounds.

Duplechan, who will likely transfer for next season, when asked about the loss, said “losing a game that close when it was so winnable, makes me want to work harder.”

As of right now, Yuba will have 9 freshman returning next season (maybe 10 if Duplechan doesn’t transfer) including Bates, and starters Jayshon Lewis and Clayton Stultz. They will have 5 departing sophomores, including Lucas, Dhatt, and Austerfjord.