Boys Basketball:

As Bonita opened the 2023-24 season, they returned nine players from last year’s squad that made a semifinal run in the CIF-SS Division 3A playoffs.

Even better than that, the Bearcats are healthier to begin this 2023-24 season.

BHS head coach, Dr. Tim Godley has recently led the program to semifinal runs in both 2019-2020, and as mentioned, last season in 2022-23.

To those outside of the sports world, it might not be common knowledge that the creating an atmosphere of a brotherhood (or sisterhood) is invaluable to the lasting success of a program.

It forges a dynamic in which players genuinely love one another, and they’ll do everything within their power to not let their brother or sister down.

It’s been cited by many championship coaches at all levels as the difference between a great season or a championship season.

The best possible and freshest example is that of the Rio Hondo Prep football program in Arcadia.

The Kares head coach, Mark Carson and his staff, work at a school that has an enrollment of approximately 110 students, and yet they’re able to compete and defeat schools that have a 10-to-30-time advantage in numbers, and that translates into far more talent on the opposing sideline.

Over this past summer, Carson and his fellow staff from RHP took 35 student-athletes on a 28-day trip to eight different states.

They visited many of our most hallowed monuments as a way to learn more about the United States, to appreciate the sacrifices of those that came before them, and to build a deeper relationship with one another.

They weren’t allowed to bring any distractions, including their cell phones, which forced them to develop better communication skills and their patience was tested being around each other 24/7.

Five months later, Rio Hondo Prep won a CIF-SS Division 9 championship with its 29-27 victory at Santa Monica High School.

The RHP athletes told this reporter on multiple occasions that the trip over the summer brought them together in a way that they couldn’t have forecasted themselves.

That gets us to December of 2023, and the Bonita boys basketball program.

Godley and his staff took their program 2,523 miles to compete at the Baldwin Tournament in Hawaii.

If there was ever a term win-win-win, this would be the appropriate time to use it.

The Bearcats got to bond with each other, they played in five games to get better on the court, and they were surrounded by beauty, which included the scenery and the girls.

The five-day adventure began at 5 am on Wednesday, December the 6th, when they got on a bus to LAX.

After landing in Maui, the Bonita players, coaches and parents checked into their hotel, took a short break, and went to day one of the tournament.

In spite of their fatigue, BHS defeated King Kekaulike, 72-61.

On Thursday, they went to Wailea, spent time at the beach, had shaved ice and then headed back to the hotel to rest up.

Later that day, the Bearcats played their best game of the trip, defeating Konawaena by 20 points.

On Friday, the boys from La Verne enjoyed the beach and then went on to play two games.

In the first, BHS claimed a 53-42 victory over one of the tournament hosts from Baldwin.

That meant Bonita was 3-0 at the five-game tournament.

Later that day, St. Louis, the defending Division 1 state champs, handed the Bearcats a solid, 68-50 thumping.

After getting back to the hotel, the program had a surprise 18th birthday celebration for Collin Henry.

To finish up their business on the court, the defending D-2 state champs from Kohala, edged the Bearcats, 58-56.

Bonita finished 3-2 at the Baldwin Tournament.

They would have a team dinner in Kaanapali, and afterwards, the BHS players had fun at an escape room, which is described this way: it’s a room in which people are locked in order to play a game requiring them to solve a series of puzzles within a certain amount of time to accomplish a goal, typically finding the key to unlock the room.

Oh, and just to be clear, it wasn’t all fun.

The student-athletes did their part at study-hall sessions to keep up with their classwork.

Bonita played at three different schools, which included Seabury Hall, King Ketaulike and Baldwin.

The players got to see and meet players from different areas of the island.

It was reported that the Hawaiin teams were very hospitable, and they fed the Bearcats after games.

I asked Coach Godley to reflect on the trip.

“Having a few days at home after the trip has allowed us all to appreciate the opportunity given to us,” he said. “Our players were absolutely fantastic throughout the trip, even navigating a six-hour flight delay on the trip home like rock stars. I am grateful for the support of our school and the district for allowing us to take this trip. Our parents organized many fundraisers which allowed us to pay for nearly all of the trip. Their generous and timeless efforts made this possible.”

I also asked a few players what they got out of the trip, what they enjoyed doing most, and what they already miss since heading back home.

Said Colton Perez: “My favorite thing about the trip was getting to play competitive teams at all of the different schools in Maui, and I also really loved how peaceful it was there. This trip made our team chemistry even better, and that is what I miss already, just getting to hang and hoop with the boys in beautiful Hawaii. Also, I am so grateful to all of our sponsors and to our friends, family, coaches and to our administration for making this once-in-a-lifetime trip possible, and for helping to get us better, which is 100-percent what we accomplished there.”

Said Hunter Smith: “We improved in our ability to come out with energy early in games. My favorite part of the trip was going fishing with the team. The thing I miss already is snorkeling.”

Said Josh Kim: “Something our team took from that experience was getting to know each other and we got some great exposure to great teams. We had some talks to fix our mistakes, so that we are ready for league and the playoffs. I enjoyed hospitality of the Hawaiian people. They served us dinner after every game, and they were super nice. I already miss going to the beach with friends and just hanging out. I learned a lot more about our team in Hawaii, and our chemistry only got better.”

To view photos from the Hawaii trip, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook

Hawaii Trip Scores:
12/6: Bonita 72, King Kekaulike 61
12/7: Bonita 76, Konawaena 56
12/8: Bonita 53, Baldwin 42
12/8: St. Louis 68, Bonita 50
12/9: Kohala 58, Bonita 56

Upcoming Bonita Schedule:
12/22: Bonita at Colony (Palomares League opener)
12/26: Bonita vs Inglewood at 8:30 (Classic at Damien)

Palomares League Standings:
Glendora (10-4 overall, 0-0 in league)
Bonita (9-4, 0-0)
Ayala (7-4, 0-0)
Alta Loma (5-5, 0-0)
Colony (3-5, 0-0)
Claremont (4-7, 0-0)