Firebaugh head coach Stephon Price celebrates with his players as he lifts the championship trophy after defeating Big Bear 76-31 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Geovanni Gilpen (10) attemps a slam dunk as they play Big Bear during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
ONTARIO — Early in the season, there might have been some doubt surrounding the Firebaugh boys basketball team. In Saturday’s CIF Southern Section Division 5A championship game against Big Bear, doubt made an early exit, never to be seen again.
The Falcons continued their late-season surge, dominating from the opening tip on the way to a 76-31 rout to claim the school’s first CIF-SS basketball championship.
“Everybody doubted us,” Coach Stephon Price said. “We had to earn our respect. The school had to earn it, the players and I needed to earn respect.”
The Falcons (18-11) earned it by winning nine of their last 10 games, the victories coming by an average of nearly 30 points. That included a 29-point victory over top-seeded Ontario in the semifinals.
Firebaugh head coach Stephon Price celebrates with his players after defeating Big Bear 76-31 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Adrian De La Cruz (23) drives to the basket as Big Bear’s Ryder Dolan (1) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Big Bear players watch as their season comes to a painful end during the final seconds against Firebaugh during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Firebaugh (Lynwood) defeated Big Bear 76-31 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh head coach Stephon Price celebrates with his players after defeating Big Bear 76-31 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Big Bear’s Kyle Rice (22) drives to the basket as Firebaugh’s Kentrayl Roberson (15) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Big Bear’s Kyle Rice (22) drives to the basket as Firebaugh’s Kentrayl Roberson (15) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Big Bear’s Savion Sorapuru (10) blocks a shot by Firebaugh’s Teiahjio Gilpen (5) during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Geordan Gilpen (3) attemps a slam dunk as they play Big Bear during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Geordan Gilpen (3) attemps a slam dunk as they play Big Bear during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Adrian De La Cruz (23) drives the basket as Big Bear’s Savion Sorapuru (10) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Big Bear’s Kyle Rice (22) drives to the basket as Firebaugh’s Kentrayl Roberson (15) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Teiahjio Gilpen (5) makes a slam dunk during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship against Big Bear at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Big Bear’s Savion Sorapuru (10) blocks a shot by Firebaugh’s Teiahjio Gilpen (5) during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Jalen Bain (1), drives to the basket as Big Bear’s Savion Sorapuru (10) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh head coach Stephon Price, center right, celebrates with his players after defeating Big Bear 76-31 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh head coach Stephon Price shouts instructions to his his team as they play Big Bear during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh head coach Stephon Price celebrates with his players as he lifts the championship trophy after defeating Big Bear 76-31 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh head coach Stephon Price celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Big Bear 76-31 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh head coach Stephon Price celebrates with his players as he lifts the championship trophy after defeating Big Bear 76-31 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Adrian De La Cruz (23) drives to the basket as Big Bear’s Ryder Dolan (1) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Jalen Bain (1), drives to the basket as Big Bear’s Savion Sorapuru (10) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Big Bear’s Savion Sorapuru (10) blocks a shot by Firebaugh’s Teiahjio Gilpen (5) during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Jalen Bain, center, drives to the basket as Big Bear’s Ryder Dolan, left, defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Big Bear players watch as their season comes to a painful end during the final seconds against Firebaugh during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Firebaugh (Lynwood) defeated Big Bear 76-31 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s Geovanni Gilpen (10) attemps a slam dunk as they play Big Bear during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh head coach Stephon Price, center, celebrates with Geordan Gilpen, left, and Aaron Banks, right, after defeating Big Bear 76-31 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh head coach Stephon Price celebrates with his players as he lifts the championship trophy after defeating Big Bear 76-31 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Big Bear’s Kyle Rice (22) drives to the basket as Firebaugh’s Kentrayl Roberson (15) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Big Bear plays Firebaugh (Lynwood) for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball championship at Colony High School in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firebaugh’s program was essentially rebuilt after a 6-22 season, with an influx of transfers.
“It was based off trust, really,” Price said. “These seniors trusted me with their last season of basketball. I told them that, if we handled what we had to do, if we worked hard, we were going to get a ring.”
If the victory over Ontario made that ring seem plausible, the opening minutes of Saturday’s final locked it in.
The Falcons’ defensive quickness forced Big Bear (24-6) well out of its comfort zone. By the time a little more than three minutes had elapsed, Firebaugh had forced six turnovers and was sitting on a 15-2 lead. By the end of the first quarter, the lead was 22 points.
“Defense wins games,” Firebaugh guard Aaron Banks said. “We know if we play defense and lock them down from the start, our offense will take care of itself.”
For Big Bear, the defensive quickness wasn’t the only problem to contend with. Teiahjio Gilpen, the Falcons’ 6-foot-8 post, scored Firebaugh’s first six points and was dominant in the paint.
“Their size killed us,” Big Bear coach Vince Bauer said. “And a lot of fast break points. We weren’t getting back in transition.”
The big numbers piled up for the Falcons, as they scored 25 points off turnovers and 25 second-chance points. Gilpen led the way with 22 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, and Banks had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Firebaugh took on a tough early-season schedule and had lost 4 of 6 before its current hot streak. Time and experience, however, seem to be paying off.
“The more we played with each other, the more we learned about each other, how are our game is,” Gilpen said. “What to do, what not to do.”
Savion Sorapuru had 13 points and Aiden Brewer grabbed 12 rebounds for Big Bear.
Both teams have qualified for state regional play, with pairings to be announced Sunday.
