The bleachers in the Bob Tuttle gym lit up with cheers as players were announced, stepping onto the floor. The Buena Bulldogs were up against their long-time crosstown rivals, the Ventura Cougars, on the night of Dec. 9. They were ready for an intense game, and although the Cougars won 66-57, the Bulldogs still fought hard until the end with some close calls, a couple buzzer beaters and lots of determination, consistently putting their all into the game.

Senior and center Rook Johnson shared how the team’s energy had been prior to the game. As a result of the long time rivalry between Buena and Ventura, this game was important, and the team needed to focus as they wanted to do their best.

“We were ready more than anything… just ready to come out and win,” Johnson said.

The Bulldogs started with the ball as the timer buzzed for the beginning of the first quarter. However, the ball was soon stolen, and Ventura made the first bucket of the game. Already having an energetic start, the game was in Ventura’s favor 3-0. The Bulldogs didn’t lose determination though, catching the ball before the Cougars could make a shot. Towards the end of the first quarter, Ventura struggled for the ball, and in the last five seconds freshman and shooting guard, Chris Compton made a three-pointer, ending the quarter in Ventura’s favor 15-6 as the crowds cheered. 

The second quarter began with excitement after the previous ending, with Buena and Ventura not missing a beat and taking turns scoring. After a two-point shot from Buena and 4 minutes left on the clock, the Cougars were still in the lead 21-10, although the referees did not retire blowing the whistle as Ventura was also leading the fouls with 4-0.

The second quarter’s ending was tense. As scores went back and forth, the timer was quickly running out with only six seconds left. Compton made another last minute score, evoking an enthusiastic response from the stands, and bringing the score to 30-16 for the end of the first half.

Halftime performances featured Ventura’s varsity cheer team, as well as the dance and hip-hop teams, hyping everyone up with the hip-hop team’s routine to “Motorsport” by Migos. By the time the Bulldogs were warming up for the third quarter, the team looked ready to take on the next half.

Buena made the first points of the third quarter, as well as a successful free throw starting the quarter off at 30-19, Ventura. As the Cougars made every effort to score, the team’s number of fouls increased instead, already beginning the quarter with 2-0. Buena was catching up, and brought the score to 30-22, but three minutes into the quarter, Ventura fought back and scored twice. With four minutes left, players were on the floor attempting to get the ball, and the Bulldogs tried shooting, but Ventura stole the ball and missed a shot instead. After an intense two minutes involving players on the floor for the second time, the Cougars and Bulldogs simultaneously increased their points as the crowd sat on the edge of their seats. 

With less than a minute left in the third quarter, Buena scored four more points and the crowd roared, ending another quarter with cheering from the Bulldog’s side. However, the end of the quarter was still in Ventura’s favor 47-33.

Buena’s head basketball coach Matthew Colton consulted the players before quarter four began, starting the last quarter confidently. As points are quickly made back and forth for both teams, the referees call right before the Bulldogs could make another point, which was one of many timeouts in the last quarter.

Both teams returned ready to end the quarter strong, and Buena made a few more shots before the timeouts began to happen around once a minute. Coming back, the score was 58-52 with three minutes left on the clock. Ventura was leading, their score increasing to 66-54, but in the end of a stressful last quarter, Bulldog’s senior and number 12, Aron Araiza, scores with only 30 seconds left, ending the game with a score of 66-57. After the game, the coach shouted out a few of his players. 

“The freshmen [on the team] played pretty well today, [as it was their] first time at a Buena-Ventura game, and as always Johnson, so we need to keep depending on him,” Colton said.

Overall, despite the Cougars’ win, the Bulldogs fought hard staying determined, energetic and not giving up no matter what happened, as well as always ending the quarters strong and leaving the crowd cheering.