On Friday, Jan. 10, Chabot came into the lion’s den with a 12-4 record — the Mountain Lions had a tough matchup ahead of them, but that didn’t mean they would easily accept defeat. Every player’s mindset had to be focused on the game plan.
Team Captain Sean Crowley (De Anza No. 32), 20, business administration major, led by example. He was dialed in and focused on the goal.
“All that extra stuff doesn’t matter; the only thing that does is how we play,” Crowley said.
While Crowley was getting everyone locked in, Tre Fields (De Anza No. 30), 20, sociology major, had another routine. When nerves started to slip through the cracks, Fields and a group of his teammates huddled together and kneel in front of the bench during the last three minutes of warmups for a team prayer.
“I’ve come from a difficult background where everything wasn’t given to me. I had to work for everything I have,” Fields said. “It’s important to be thankful for each moment. God has been a big factor in my life.”
This gratitude and focus on the game come together for a lethal determination.
Going into the first half, the Mountain Lions knew Chabot liked to push the pace.
The Mountain Lions aimed to collapse the paint, forcing Chabot to settle for perimeter shots instead of driving to the rim. The Mountain Lions aren’t accustomed to this style of play; they typically thrive in half-court sets rather than fast-break situations. This defensive adjustment brought added pressure.
“The team is quiet. People need that extra confidence sometimes,” Fields said. “I’m able to use my voice and my loud mouth. It takes the pressure off the guys and puts it more on me.”
With 11:38 left in the half, Crowley was orchestrating a set play that broke down under defensive pressure. Reading the defense, he quickly created separation with a step-back move and drilled a three-pointer — nothing but net.
Later in the half, a Chabot player forced a turnover and initiated a fast break, dishing to an open teammate for what seemed like an easy layup. But Crowley hustled back in transition, elevated and delivered a clutch chase-down block.
Despite their defensive efforts, the Mountain Lions trailed at halftime, 44-35, with Chabot maintaining the lead.
They returned from halftime with urgency, matching every basket Chabot made and answering with points of their own. Defensively, the Mountain Lions tightened up, forcing Chabot into low-percentage shots by shutting down the sidelines — an area Chabot typically exploited in their offensive sets.
Although trailing, the Mountain Lions kept the game within reach as the two-minute warning approached. Down by four with 1:35 remaining, the strategy was clear: attack the rim or create an open look. Justice Owens (De Anza No. 4), 21, business administration major, brought the ball up beyond the arc, got trapped in a double team, and quickly kicked it out to Fields, who was spotted up in the corner.
With seconds left in regulation, Theo McDowell (De Anza No. 24), 18, business marketing major, had the inbound pass. The offensive plan was to free up Owens. Crowley set a solid off-ball screen, allowing Owens to pop out for a potential game-winning three. However, Chabot’s defenders collapsed on Owens at the perimeter.
Recognizing the defensive overcommitment, Crowley made a smart slip cut to the basket, driving through the paint for an uncontested layup to tie the score at 79-79.
With just 0.2 seconds left, Chabot attempted a full-court pass — Fields read the play perfectly, intercepting the pass with a one-handed snag, effectively sealing the Mountain Lions’ chance to push the game into overtime.
With five minutes on the clock and everything on the line, the Mountain Lions brought their full intensity to the court.
“It’s a whole different battle,” Fields said. “You’re tired, you’re mentally drained. But it’s another five minutes to go out there and prove you’re better than the other team.”
Owens scored critical points, knocking down a clutch three-pointer with 2:35 remaining, cutting the deficit to 85-81 with the Mountain Lions still trailing. Both teams traded buckets in a back-and-forth battle, but the referees added extra pressure with questionable calls against De Anza. The Mountain Lions found themselves fighting not just Chabot, but also the officiating.
A controversial foul was called on Crowley with 1:03 left. Crowley was tracking his man into the paint and elevated to contest the shot, but the referee called him for a reach-in foul.
“The dude went baseline and jumped, so I went up with him and felt all ball. But then I heard the whistle,” Crowley said. “Even the other team knew it was a bad call. We all laughed it off, but it is what it is — we move on.”
With just 9.6 seconds left and the Mountain Lions trailing 89-86, Head Coach Joe Berticevich called a crucial timeout to draw up a final play. The Mountain Lions had possession after the timeout and attempted a catch-and-shoot three-pointer to Owens, but the play broke down, resulting in a turnover to Chabot.
The situation required a foul to stop the clock and give the team a fighting chance. This ultimately sent a Chabot player to the free-throw line. The player sank both shots, effectively sealing the game.
The final score was 91-86 in Chabot’s favor.
Though this wasn’t the ending the Mountain Lions had hoped for, it was one of their most competitive and hard-fought games of the season. This underdog team has shown resilience and potential, making their future performance one to watch closely.
