At Paloma, state finals cancellation brings sadness, tears

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Paloma Valley High School officials had the unenviable task of meeting with members of the girls basketball team after the CIF State office made official today what many feared – the state basketball championship games in Sacramento have been cancelled.

That means that the most successful basketball season by any team in Menifee history – one that could be argued is the most successful ever in any sport – is over. The Wildcats finish their amazing season with a 34-3 record, a 19-game winning streak and the CIF State Southern Region title.

The CIF State office announced Wednesday night that its executives were meeting about the situation and would have an announcement this morning. That came in a 9 a.m. conference call with administrators of the schools scheduled to play in the state finals. Wildcats coach Matt Dale said that until this morning, he held out hope that the games would still be played but in an empty arena, as some organizations had previously decided.

That didn’t happen. Not only were all games cancelled, but coaches were told the finalists would not be listed as state co-champions, said athletic director Ryan Sharp. Instead, the 2020 championships in all CIF divisions will be vacated.

“The players are devastated,” Dale said. “I knew it was out of our hands, and I knew it would either be limited attendance or cancellation. With the precedent of the NCAA [playing in empty arenas], I thought they might follow that precedent.”

This afternoon, the NCAA announced it has cancelled its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

Sharp and principal Jennifer Thomasian joined Dale in meeting with the players this morning. Sharp acknowledged “there was a lot of crying” and not much said by the players.

Thomasian said school officials will determine how to honor the team as soon as possible. Currently, events such as assemblies and pep rallies have been cancelled.

“We’re super proud of the kids,” Thomasian said. “I told them they’ve done amazing work on the court and in representing the school and the entire city. On the road tips we made, everyone talked about how respectful the players were.”

Sharp said a group of parents had planned to make the trip to Sacramento and about 35 Paloma Valley teachers had purchased subscriptions to an online service so they could live stream the 2 p.m. Friday game in their classrooms.

“There’s the aspect of rings, banners, a title, but the loss of the competitive part of it is what is so disappointing," Dale said. "The girls wanted the chance to go and measure themselves in this game.”

Paloma’s scheduled opponent in the Division III championship game was St. Mary’s High of the San Francisco Bay area, which likely would’ve sent a large contingent of fans to the game. But Paloma Valley had already proven itself worthy of winning big games on the road.

The Wildcats defeated a 34-3 Ontario Christian team on the road in the CIF Southern Section finals. In the CIF State Southern Regionals, they beat a 24-5 Righetti team in Santa Maria and a 25-10 Peninsula team in Rolling Hills Estates.

Menifee 24/7 will publish a season-ending tribute to the Wildcats on Friday and will monitor discussions on any honors given by school or city officials.