DIVISION V
Going into the season, Flintridge Prep and Thacher were the favorites to compete for the team title. But, with the addition of eventual champion, Jackson Adelman, St. Margaret's moved into the driver's seat and ran away with their first title since 2012.
Expected to be a tigher team battle at the SS-Finals, St. Margaret's moved away for the 65-111, 46-point victory with Adelman up front. Only a sophomore in his first year of competing, he took the division by storm and was one of the top sophomores in the Southern Section. Robbie Graham and Christopher Chan provided backup support to help lead St. Margaret's to the State Meet for the 10th time in the past 11 seasons and their first title since capturing three in a row from 2010-2012.
With the longest string of qualifying for the California State Meet in the section of 23 years straight, runner-up Flintridge Prep finished in the top three for the ninth year in a row. Carson Hasbrouck and sophomore Bennett Oaks led the way for the Rebels.
Defending champions, Thacher, took third place. This was their tenth time in 12 seasons of moving onward to Fresno as they were led by divisional runner-up Ford Shaper and the improved Winslow Atkeson. Stepping forward for one of their best teams in some time, Woodcrest Christian secured that fourth place spot at the SS-Finals. Riley Bautista led the Royals to their 16th trip to the State Meet in the last 19 years.
Much improved Viewpoint was a nice surprise this season and crossed the line in fifth place as a team. Ronnie Orosky and Miles Clark both finished in the top ten at the SS-Finals. While this was their first trip to the State Meet, expect them to be a contender in 2019 as they return their top four and six of their varsity seven.
Xavier Prep qualified for another trip (nine in a row) to the State Meet with their sixth place finish. They were led by Jesus Arzapalo and Patrick Trubee. In the closest finish of the day, it came down to a tie between Desert Christian of Lancaster and the unknown Midland crew. DC held on for that last spot with the sixth runner tie-breaker going their way for their eighth trip to Fresno in the last ten seasons. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, Midland just missed what would have been their first State Meet trip as they will return six of their varsity seven for the 2019 season.
Surprise Teams: Viewpoint, Midland
Surprise Individuals: Jackson Adelman (St. Margaret's), Shane Lintereur (Trinity Classical)