By Alex A. Gonzalez
Temple City – For the first time in school history, the Temple City Rams saw themselves in the CIF-SS Division 5A quarterfinals Tuesday night, where they hosted the Pilibos Eagles. After keeping it close for the first eight minutes of play, the Eagles were able to quiet the thunderous crowd in their 55-33 win at Temple City High School.
From the jump, Pilibos’ game plan was to establish an inside presence against the home team with its frontcourt duo, Demo Galadjian and Alex Andriassian, who overpowered the Rams’ frontcourt, combining for 33 points and 16 rebounds.
As the opening quarter unfolded, when Galadjian or Andriassian possessed the ball, they went right to work and attacked Rams’ Mason Collins with either a spin move to the basket or an offensive putback. The two carried the offense as the first quarter ended 11-8.
Although the Rams fell victim to the Eagles’ trap defense and lost possession on three of their first four offensive trips to start the game, Jake Vasquez was the aggressor, outscoring the rest of the team in the first quarter.
However, as the second quarter began, Pilibos went on an 11-2 run over the first 6:22 of play, led by Andriassian and Tigran Khachatryan, who outscored the Rams between the two. They were also responsible for keeping Dylan Lam, who scored 29 points last Friday night, scoreless in the first half.
As the offensive turnovers continued in the second quarter, the Rams could not generate an offensive possession that ended with a bucket, and went into intermission down 26-18.
With the possession arrow favoring the Rams to start the second half, it was the only time they were not pressured into a turnover. The Eagles’ 2-3 zone defense kept the Rams from driving and kicking it out for a wide-open three-point attempt.
And when Temple City would find a crease in the paint, they were met immediately by Galadjian or Andriassian, who would alter the shot attempt.
With the Rams not being able to find the bottom of the net, the Eagles’ offense exploded by going on a 12-0 run that ultimately put the game out of reach for the Rams, as they were only able to muster three points in the third quarter, making the score 40-21 after three.
Temple City did make one final push as the final eight minutes started with Vasquez taking control of the offense by scoring six of his 16 points in the final frame.
However, with every made basket by the senior guard, the Eagles had an answer on the other end. Then, with about two minutes left in regulation, both teams emptied their benches as Pilibos outscored the Rams 29-15 in the second half.
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