The Cate boys season — and their 14 game win streak — ended Tuesday with a 48-47 overtime loss at Western Anaheim in a second-round CIF-SS Division 4A game.
The Rams rallied from a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force a neck-and-neck finish — capped when Cate senior Mason Oetgen raced downcourt with 10 seconds remaining and hit a 3-point shot to tie the game at 39 and send it into overtime.
“This is one of the most talented and balanced and hardest-working teams I have had here at Cate, and it stings extra tonight because we gave it our all came up just a little shy,” Rams coach Andy Gil said.. “Effort was never in question.”
Junior Jengus Ercil led Cate with 17 points, and Junior Babacar Pouye added 13.
In their last game as Rams, seniors Oetgen had nine points, Ethan Ligon five, and Jack Ludviksen three.
“Shots and especially layups we have made all season long just didn’t drop, and unfortunately had too many unforced turnovers and missed free throws to put the game out of reach for good,” Gil said. “As a coach, I can’t help but replay the entire game in my head and I take responsibility for not capitalizing on certain matchups, mixing up our defenses, and continuing to do what was working. This game will haunt me for a long time.
“I credit their coach for making us work so hard on offense and their hostile crowd. It was one of the loudest and most hostile environments I have ever been a part of as a coach and by far the toughest gym this team has played in. The game was extremely physical.”
Western Anaheim’s Ahmad Hammouri was “terrific,” Gil said, scoring 25 points. “He made some tough contested shots that we wished would not have fallen.”
Cate’s season included a 7-0 championship run through the Frontier League season. The Rams finished 14-4 overall.
Gil called it a “terrific season for the entirety of our team:”
Seniors Oetgen, Ligon, Ludviksen, Matty Holmes, John Endres, Xander Osbourne and Tyler Tom; juniors Pouye, Ercil, Daniel Lee and Will Vanica; sophmore Tyler Martinez; and freshman Marcus Scudder.