El Camino head coach Colin Jamerson had high hopes after his team’s flawless second-half performance led them to victory against Calabasas. A game where junior Charles Eleri shined with 30 points. The 8-9 Royals were riding a wave of confidence from a strong week of practice and aimed to maintain their momentum. But Birmingham’s relentless speed and stifling defense—allowing just 52 points per game this season—shut down El Camino from the opening whistle. Eleri, who had exploded for 13 points in the first quarter of the prior game, didn’t even attempt a shot in the opening frame against the Patriots.

Birmingham senior guard Mandell Anthony spearheaded the defensive onslaught, setting the tone early. Both teams struggled offensively and the was score tied at 4 midway through the first quarter. However, the Patriots’ backcourt duo of Anthony and junior Aethan DeLa Luna began converting steals into transition buckets, giving Birmingham the edge.

For the Royals, junior forward Lucas Le provided a spark off the bench with slashing drives to the basket and the team played sound defense. Despite the Royals’ efforts, the Patriots ended the first quarter ahead, 16-13.

The defensive intensity only heightened in the second quarter as both teams applied full-court pressure. Frustration mounted for El Camino, culminating in a loose-ball scrum where senior Shawn Tunson inadvertently struck Anthony. To his credit, Anthony maintained his composure and stayed locked in. “Tonight (Calabasas) took us out of every set. They did a good job of taking Eleri out of our offense. And we didn’t have no one else to step up in that role,” Jamerson reflected.

Eleri finally found the basket, hitting a three-pointer to finish the half with five points, but the Royals struggled to generate offense. Despite holding Birmingham to just 26 first-half points, the Royals trailed 26-21 at the break.

To start the second half, Birmingham head coach Nicolas Halic urged his team to sustain their defensive pressure and they responded with an overwhelming third quarter that sealed the game. Le and senior Nicolas Phenix kept El Camino within striking distance with their rebounding but the Royals couldn’t buy a basket. It was as if the hoop had a lid over it and the team managed a lone three-pointer from Eleri in the period.

Meanwhile, the Patriots turned up the heat on offense. Sophomore X’zavion McKay made his presence felt with two blocks and several interior buckets, while senior Andre Smith attacked the rim, drawing fouls and converting all six of his free-throw attempts. Birmingham took a commanding 46-24 lead into the 4th quarter. “Defensively, that’s the best they’ve (followed) a game plan all season long,” Halic declared.

The Royals managed to find some rhythm during garbage time, but it was too little, too late and the Patriots cruised to a 59-42 victory. Royal sharpshooter Tunson was held to one point on just two field goal attempts. Phenix, more of a swiss army knife, launched seven three-pointers (making two) while Eleri took only six shots all night. “We just didn’t look in sync tonight,” Jamerson offered.

“Birmingham did a really good job of pressuring the hell out of us, and sometimes in basketball when that happens, you take your plays, you crumble them up, you throw them away, and then you just have to play a game where you’re driving and kicking. A game that I think most kids like to play. Just free. Well, we couldn’t do either tonight whether it was FreePlay or the system,” Jamerson admitted.

El Camino falls to 8-10 (0-1 in West Valley) and visits the 11-5 Chatsworth Chancellors, fresh off beating up Granada Hills this Friday night @ 6:00 P.M.

Halic was very pleased with his Patriots after the game. “I thought a key was not settling against (El Camino’s) zone. Not taking a bunch of threes. It’s a good win. It’s hard to win at El Camino.” On Anthony, his lightning-quick guard who dominated on both ends of the court and finished with 18 points, five assists, and five steals, Halic acknowledged: “He has a ton of potential. This was his best game by far. He scored more in other games but this was a good floor game. He made some passes, got some big rebounds. Best all-around game. “

Birmingham improves to 8-8 (1-0 in the West Valley League) and will try to build on this victory when they travel to Taft this Friday for another intriguing West Valley matchup.

All photos by Benjamin Becher: