With the holidays behind them, both basketball teams at Mission Bay High are shooting for as much success as possible in league play.
On the boys side, new head coach Marshawn Cherry had the Bucs at 11-4 heading into action this week.
Mission Bay won the Under Armour Holiday Classic Governor Division championship by beating San Juan Hills 95-74.
The Bucs also made it to the semifinals of the Hilltop Tournament, falling to Canyon Crest.
In the finals of the San Ysidro Cougars Classic, Mission Bay fell to Valhalla.
According to Cherry, the team’s key players have been Rejean “Boogie” Ellis who is averaging 26 points and seven assists per game; Marcus Nickerson (who Cherry says “is a spark for the team”); Jaymare Norton and Andrea Scott (“have been steady and solid all year”); and the anchor in the middle, Ronnie Latting.
“I am very pleased with our growth as a team on and off the court,” Cherry commented. “Guys are taking care of their business on the court, and more importantly, in the classroom. “We want well-rounded student-athletes here at Mission Bay; the key words are student-athletes, not athletic-student. You have to be a Student first. We are right on pace for where we planned on being in our development process with the team. The future is bright if we stay the course.”
 
Girls basketball
On the girls side of the ledger, head coach Vince Ichihara had his Bucs sitting at 3-9 heading into play this week.
According to Ichihara, key players so far have included freshman Maggie Acquaah and Noella Coiquaud; sophomore Natalie Mcdermott; senior Sammy Zambrano, and sophomores Brooklyn Grooms and Ryleigh Maple. 
“Due to vacations during the tournaments over winter break to begin the season we have yet to get all of our starters and key players on the court together,” Ichihara commented. “Finally entering the Sweetwater Tournament, we have had a chance to get everyone going together. “We have put together the team’s first win streak with back-to-back wins since 2013. We are a Division IV team and since getting everyone back we have beaten Division III Sweetwater by 22 points and beat Division I Granite Hills (who went to the CIF Semifinals last season in Division I) 44-42 with a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Maggie Acquaah,” Ichihara added.
Over the last three seasons, the girls’ basketball team has been 3-50. This season, the Lady Bucs have already had the most wins with three since 2014. “I am very proud of the girls and their progress in my first year taking over the program,” Ichihara noted. “I look for great things in the future for Mission Bay girls basketball.” Girls water polo With the midway point of January nearly having arrived, the Mission Bay High girls water polo team looks to make a run at league and CIF titles.
Head coach John Knight noted that the squad is excited about its chances this season due to a pair of returning seniors, Clemence Tardivel and Justine Brissot.
“They both have been leaders in and out of the pool,” Knight commented.
Knight said the juniors should also make some major contributions this season, with Olivia Martinet and Ciara Gray leading the way.
“Our team is looking forward to the upcoming games in our challenging schedule,” Knight added.
Mission Bay has a busy next few weeks ahead of it, with matches slated against Mira Mesa (Jan. 12 at Clairemont), at Serra (Jan. 24), at Santa Fe Christian (Jan. 26), at the Cougar Varsity Invite Tourney (Jan. 28), and at Mira Mesa (Jan. 31).
The CIF playoffs are set to begin on Feb. 14.