Desert High boys basketball wins CIF title

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
For the first time in Desert High School history, the boy's basketball team has taken the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Title for Division 5A.

The DHS basketball team finished their season with a 23-3 record, making them High Desert League co-champions with Rosamond High School.

"Winning a title like this takes good chemistry on the court," said Phil Pleasant, DHS basketball head coach. "Everyone got along and played well together, and it helped to have senior Robert Thurman, who is six feet seven inches, on the team."

The overall season for the DHS basketball team was a highlight, Mr. Pleasant said. Not just one game stood out -- they all did.

"Winning this title was great," Thurman said. "It took a lot of teamwork to win something like this. My teammates sacrificed a lot to win."

Key players for the season were Thurman, who averaged about 16 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks; the coach's son, junior Phillip Pleasant, who averaged 10 points, five steals and four assists; and junior Brandon Lowe, who averaged nine points, six assists, four steals and three blocks.

"It felt good to win for our seniors, we wanted them to be able to leave the team with a bang," the younger Pleasant said. "Winning this championship has been the highlight of my life."

DHS will be losing three seniors but are looking great with six upcoming seniors ready to step-up and take charge next season, said Nat Adams, DHS Principal.

"I think we will have a good chance at winning again next year," Mr. Pleasant said. "Next year, I think we are going to be more athletic, but not as tall, which is OK."

Last year, the team was a little young with only two or three seniors playing, so the coaching staff and players knew coming into this season would be really special for them, and it was, Mr. Pleasant said.

"Its been a really fun season, the players came out and worked hard everyday. I never heard them complain," Mr. Pleasant said. "As a coach, you sometimes really have to get on your players, but that wasn't the case this year. I never really had to tell them anything. They knew they had to work hard."

These Desert High School players had that "want to win" mentality as they went through their season, and the support from the school really boosted that, Mr. Pleasant said.

"I distinctly remember the CIF finals game," Mr. Pleasant said. "I was surrounded by fans in the stand all wearing purple. They have supported us right from the beginning. Another huge help was my assistant coach, Richard Seymour."

Mr. Pleasant said going to the first round of the state tournament definitely opened up the players' eyes as well as the coaching staff letting them know that there is really good basketball out there.

With more practice and determination, Mr. Pleasant and his players said they plan on making it this far again next year and possibly even further in the state finals.