Gathered around a table in The Feather lab, members of the ’24-’25 varsity boys basketball team unpack a monumental season that set new records for the program. The boys share retellings of hard work over a year-long journey with fond stories of team bonding and connection.
Ten tight-knit varsity boys all bought into a common goal way before other teams even started practicing. The team vowed to, above all else, play for Christ and also play for each other. Starting with shootarounds in early April, the camaraderie of a special team was being built in the FC gym.
Just as school got out for the summer, the boys traveled to Point Loma Nazarene University for a tournament that would be an early assessment of how the team would mesh together, and would also be a gauge for goals to be set for the upcoming league season. The trip, aside from basketball, brought the team closer together and ushered in a new member of the FCS family before he ever stepped foot on campus.
A fiery guard whose priority is getting the team involved, Jeremiah Mason was a welcoming addition to the team. Coming from Roosevelt High School, he was able to kickstart the high-octane Eagles offense from the first tip-off of summer league play with crafty ball handling and impressive court vision.
Mason displayed his skills on the court and found enjoyment in setting up his teammates.
“I enjoy making the game easier for not only myself but others on the team,” Mason said.
After a summer and fall filled with countless workouts and practices, the Eagles headed into the preseason with lofty expectations. The team’s chemistry had been built up exponentially through many tough practices and shouting from Head Coach Jon Penberthy. The intensity was perfect for getting players ready for some tough pre-league matchups.
With the season’s first game taking place at Save Mart Center, the practices would soon come to fruition on a grand stage. Taking on Redwood, the Eagles would be tested early, but eventually would come out with the win 70-62. This was a sign for things to come as ball movement and hard-nosed defense secured them a victory over a higher-division opponent.
Throughout preseason play, the boys would be tested with much tougher opponents than those in their league, which would condition the team to set themselves up for a high seed in the Central Section Playoffs. Some of these matchups included a 71-66 win over Clovis High, back-to-back victories over Kingsburg and Sunnyside (66-53 and 69-51, respectively), and even a hard-fought loss against the top-ranked German basketball academy, Urspring, in the Mission Prep Christmas Classic (70-60).
The Eagles steamrolled through league play with a perfect 9-0 record, sitting comfortably at first in the Northwest Sequoia Conference. Some highlights included picking up a win against the rival Sierra Chieftains, and a record-breaking Senior Night vs. Minarets, as a 112-point outing marked the highest total in the Penberthy era.
With the team perched at a number one seed for the Central Section playoffs, a championship bout at Selland Arena became the only thing on the team’s mind. However, doubts remained about the chances of a small school like Fresno Christian winning the big dance. Central Section Outlet, a prominent figure in valley sports, predicted the Eagles to lose in the championship to Corcoran High School.
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Starting with a 29-point victory over Sanger West in the first round, confidence was high going into the second. However, the McLane Highlanders would test the Eagles in a hard-fought matchup. The resiliency of this team cannot be understated, as they pulled out a 63-54 win to advance to the semifinals. Later that week, with a resounding defensive performance, the Eagles made it to their destination with a 59-39 win over Ridgeview.
Every player on the team dreamed of playing in the championship game at Selland Arena. Playing in front of a large crowd and for such high stakes was an opportunity that few get to experience, especially at a smaller school. This is what all the work during the offseason and throughout the season had culminated into, and low and behold, the boys were prepared for the moment. Propelled by a strong second half, the Eagles were crowned champions of the Central Section with a 73-50 victory over Monache High School.
Fortunately, though, that is not how the story ended.
Riding high off of a championship victory, you would think that the exhaustion would have gotten to this group and that they would be content with winning their section, as that was considered to be the ultimate goal. However, the state had finally recognized this small school and the work put in by every player. The Eagles had been blessed with the number one seed in the Division 4 state playoffs for the southern section. In the first round, they would match up with Citrus Hill High School on their home court.
In front of a packed-out gym, the Eagles made short work of the Hawks with a 20-point victory. This win already marked uncharted territory for the basketball program at Fresno Christian, as no team had ever made it past the first round of state playoffs. With this victory, the team would start to buy into a goal to play at another landmark location, Golden One Center, the home of the Sacramento Kings.
The next three games would be absolute dogfights against teams who were all in division I for their respective sections. Starting against Ramona High, the Eagles found themselves in an 11-point hole in the third quarter. The team’s resiliency shined again as Junior Devin Gaines picked a perfect time to score his 1,000th point in his high school career. He scored the game-winning basket to put the team ahead 63-61. There would only be more of the same in the next game against Grant High School, where a strong 17-9 fourth quarter in favor of the Eagles would give them a shot at winning the entire Southern section.
In the southern section final, Granada Hills Charter came into town after knocking off the number two and three seeds. Led by another junior, this time Noah Coulton, another nail-biting finish with a dramatic free throw gave Fresno Christian their second ring, and an opportunity to play on an NBA court.
In the state final, Fresno Christian would match up with a familiar foe for those in football, Woodside Priory School. Despite a valiant effort from the team, led by a game-high 21 points from Devin Gaines, the Eagles would ultimately lose 66-83.
Devin Gaines spoke to the media after the tough loss, and just like the rest of the team he was able to hold his head high on the accomplishment that he and his brothers made.
“Most of these guys have been together for three years now,” Gaines said to ABC 30. “Obviously, we didn’t come out with the ‘W,’ but that’s fine.”
The historic run this team was able to make cannot be overlooked or understated. The countless practices, shoot-arounds, agility workouts, and film sessions all were a testament to the drive of every individual on the roster. It can be said with the utmost certainty that the ’24-25 boys turned a lot of heads with the most successful campaign to ever come from a basketball program.
To see more from the Feather, visit FC Boys Basketball fights for state title and Student athletes meet mounting pressure.
Filmed by: James Emerian and Benson Elbert
Edited by: James Emerian
