Servite basketball opened up their season and played an amazing match-up against the 6th ranked team in county, El Toro. The game started slow and El Toro took the immediate lead in the first quarter. It wasn't until the middle of the first quarter the Friars took the lead. (7-6). El Toro came back and the score was all tied up to end the first (9-9).  The Chargers went on a scoring frenzy in the second quarter and the Friars couldn't seem to keep up. El Toro had a 26-16 lead going into the half. The Friars weren't going down that easy and came out a rejuvenated team after the half. They ended the third quarter 32-31 leading El Toro after Travis Waller made both free throws. The fourth was action packed and the student section continued their spirited cheering. With 1:40 left to go in the game Jake Rivera scored a basket and made a free throw to increase the Friar lead to 42-37. Servite ended up defeating the high ranked Chargers 44-41. Rivera had a team high 14 points, Neil Pau'u had 10, Louis Juego had nine, Trevor Treinen had five, Brandon Rice had four, and Waller had two. Servite regrouped and took on La Salle.  

Servite started the physical match-up with a 3-pointer against La Salle. They kept that lead throughout the first quarter. (14-9) Both teams played a strong second quarter. The score was all tied up at 21-21 but Servite ended the quarter ahead. The score was 28-27 at the half.  The lead changed several times in the third quarter. La Salle originally took the lead with about four minutes to go. (36-35) Servite then went on a 5-0 scoring streak. La Salle got a layup and Rivera retaliated with a 3-pointer to increase the lead. At the end of the quarter Servite was up by two with another 3-pointer by Rivera at the buzzer. (46-44)  Servite was down by a few points the majority of the fourth quarter and tied it up at 52-52. With one minute left La Salle was only up by one. La Salle made their free throws toward the end of the game and played a very successful fourth quarter. The final score was 55-59 with La Salle taking the victory. Rice had 14 points for the night. Following him was Pau'u with 11, Juego, Trevor Treinen, and Rivera with seven a piece, Eric Torres with four, Max Shlemmer with three, and Waller with two. It was a close game and the battle that ensued on the court will be remembered by the 6th man in the stands. The student section was amazing as always.  Servite then prepared for the North Orange County Championships.  The first game was against Bell Gardens.

Servite played an amazing match-up against Bell Gardens in the first round of the tournament. They won the match-up 68-31 in a high-energy game.  Pau'u had a season high 20 points. The Friars then took on the 7th ranked Canyon High School where spirits were high. Both student sections were excited to root on their teams.  Servite came in as an underdog but the Friar team had faith. The game was a nail biter the entire match-up. Canyon held the lead most of the game. Juego came through for Servite to take the lead in the fourth quarter.  The Friars held Canyon to eight points in the fourth quarter. The lead went back and forth for a while in a very physical game but  Waller gave the Friars the final lead with a layup. (53-50) Canyon scored once more to only trail by one but couldn't get the lead. The final was 53-52 in a close game. Both teams played with an amazing effort.  Treinen and Juego both had 12 points a piece to help push the Friars forward.  Waller had 10,  Rivera had nine, Pau'u had eight, and Rice had two.  Servite played against Aliso Niguel in the quarterfinals and took a late loss to the Wolverines.  Servite took an early lead, and at the end of the first quarter the Friars were up 16-11.  It wasn't until the second quarter that Aliso Niguel went on a scoring drive.  Aliso Niguel scored 22 points as Servite only had nine for the quarter.  The Wolverines had a 33-25 lead going into the half.  In the third quarter the Wolverines continued their scoring drive putting up another 20 points.  At this point Servite couldn't catch up.  The final score was 70-46 with Aliso Niguel on top.  

Servite took on Los Alamitos in the 5th place game of the North Orange County Championships.  The tight game had several lead changes, pertinent foul calls and amazing shots and assists.  Servite was down most of the game.  In the 4th quarter Servite went into a full battle with the Griffins. With 1:30 to go in the match-up the score was all tied up at 39-39.  Pau'u gave the Friars a one point lead with 27 seconds to go.  (40-39)  Los Alamitos made one free throw and once again the score was all tied up with 14.3 seconds to go.  (40-40)  The Griffins then scored two more times.  Los Alamitos took the win and the 5th place standing in the tournament.  During the holiday break the Friars will take part in the 1-15 Tournament played at Norco High School.  Their next home game will be January 2, against Santa Margarita High School at home at 7:00 pm.