On February 28, the Rocklin boys basketball team narrowly defeated the Jesuit Marauders 46-45 to claim the San Joaquin Division II Section title. The game, held at the Golden 1 Center, was a back and forth battle, with Rocklin trailing for nearly the entire game. Jesuit’s lockdown defense made scoring difficult for the Thunder, but despite the odds, Rocklin never gave up. In the final minute of the fourth quarter, Rocklin trailed by four points and needed a spark. That spark came from Reeve Slone, who drained a clutch three pointer from the corner to cut the deficit to one. On the following possession, Jesuit inbounded the ball but couldn’t get past half court before Connor Delaby came up with a crucial steal. He quickly passed to a wide open Ely Willis, who made the game winning layup. Delaby said that the team “could have quit” but instead “didn’t quit and got the result” they wanted and are now crowned champions.
Slone, who led the team with 14 points and delivered the clutch three pointer, was the clear MVP of the game. With this victory, Rocklin’s playoff run continues as they set their sights on a shot at the state title. Their next opponent and game location are yet to be determined, but the Thunder have cemented themselves in history, and will celebrate this moment forever.
