The Annual Artesia Tournament Championship lived up to its billing as the Villa Park Spartans and the Diamond Bar Brahmas delivered four quarters of tightly contested basketball before Villa Park ultimately pulled away for a 71–63 victory to secure the tournament crown.

Diamond Bar suffered an early setback when elite three-point shooter Ezekiel Alegado exited in the first quarter with what appeared to be an ankle injury. Before going down, Alegado had already knocked down a three and was expected to be a significant factor from beyond the arc. He did not return, forcing the Brahmas to lean heavily on their supporting cast the rest of the night.

Despite the loss of Alegado, Diamond Bar opened the game strongly. Senior Demi Sobiye poured in 14 points and helped guide the Brahmas to a 15–14 lead at the end of the first quarter. Villa Park responded with a 14-12 second quarter, tying the score at 27–27 at halftime, though the Spartans’ struggles at the free-throw line (2-for-8 in the first half) kept the Brahmas within striking distance.

Momentum swung late in the third when Villa Park senior Hayden Hakala, who finished as the Spartans’ leading scorer, drilled a buzzer-beating basket to break the tie and give Villa Park a 50–48 lead heading into the fourth. The Spartans carried that surge into the final quarter, executing down the stretch and securing the 71–63 win to claim the Artesia Tournament Championship.

Diamond Bar showed resilience despite playing shorthanded. Sophomore Ayden Ellis added 12 points, while senior Jedi Chow turned in a strong all-around effort with 9 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 5 rebounds. Both Chow and Alegado were named to the All-Tournament Team, highlighting the Brahmas’ impact throughout the week.

The Brahmas shot efficiently at the line, going 9-for-11, and held Villa Park to just 22 points in the paint. From deep, Diamond Bar hit 10 three-pointers, while Villa Park made 8, keeping the game competitive until the final minutes.

With the loss, Diamond Bar moves to 3–3 overall, while Villa Park improves to 7–2 after claiming the championship trophy.

Game Photos

Photos taken by Anthony Sarinana