GARDEN GROVE — The Santiago boys basketball team earned a monumental victory Friday night as it defeated crosstown rival Pacifica 50-43 in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinals.
By winning, the Cavaliers punched their ticket to the championship game, the first in program history.
Santiago guard Anthony Bermudez jumps for joy as he celebrates with his teammates after winning the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff against Pacifica in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago’s Xavier Landeros celebrates winning the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff against Pacifica in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago guard Jorden De la Mora pushes his way past Pacifica defenders to get to the basket in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago fans cheer their team during the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff against Pacifica in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago guard Jorden De la Mora, left, keeps Pacifica guard Gianmarco Mendoza from getting a clean shot in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Pacifica guard Maxon Tjhatra, right, looks to get shot over a Santiago’s Xavier Landeros boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Pacifica’s Anthony Smith is double-teamed by Santiago defenders as he tries to get to the basket in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago forward Diego Bracamonte, left, grabs the rebound in front of Pacifica Anthony Smith in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago guard Jayden Baude, right, drives past Pacifica forward Leo Adams in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago forward Jerell Guidry takes a jump shot agaisnt Pacifica in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Pacifica Anthony Smith, bottom can’t put up a shot as Santiago forward Jerell Guidry defends in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Pacifica guard Maxon Tjhatra, right, makes a pass around Santiago guard Anthony Bermudez in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago guard Jorden De la Mora, right, scores on a layup past Pacifica Anthony Smith in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago fans watch the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff against Pacifica in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago guard Anthony Bermudez, left, is intentionally fouled by Pacifica Anthony Smith late in the fourth quarter in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago forward Sang Pham celebrates winning the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff against Pacifica in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago forward Jerell Guidry (33) fights to put up a shot over Pacifica forward Luke Thompso (23) n in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Pacifica guard Maxon Tjhatra passes the ball to an open teammate in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff against Santiago in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago guard Jayden Baude, center, celebrates with teammates after winning the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff against Pacifica in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
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Santiago guard Anthony Bermudez jumps for joy as he celebrates with his teammates after winning the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal boys basketball playoff against Pacifica in Garden Grove on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Jorden De La Mora scored 13 of his game-high 25 points in the final quarter for Santiago (21-11), which will face Ramona in the final next week at a site to be determined.
Santiago coach Matt Moorhouse was overcome with emotion after the game, while he also relished the moment — earning a spot in the CIF championships on the team’s home court and surrounded by the team’s fans.
“That made it perfect,” he said. “I mean, that’s why I was so emotional, because I wanted to do something for this school ever since I got here eight years ago.”
The Mariners (21-11), who were led by Myles Salas’ team-high 13 points, trailed 33-29 as they entered the fourth quarter. They soon found themselves down by seven after a 3-pointer from De La Mora.
Pacifica, the No. 2 seed in the division, went on a 7-0 run tie the score. They got a basket from Luke Thompson, a 3-pointer from Mateo Angel and a shot from Anthony Smith.
De La Mora responded with back-to-back 3s, one from well beyond the arc and another from the corner as he got free thanks to a screen. He finished the game with five 3-pointers.
Pacifica coach David Friedman was proud of the heart and effort from his team and felt like they had their opportunity to win. He also tipped his cap to De La Mora.
“Turnovers and missed layups absolutely cost us tonight,” Friedman said, “but the other big thing was their kid, De La Mora, hit some big-time shots. “He had 13 points in the fourth quarter, and as they say, ‘players make plays’ and he took over. You gotta hand it to the kid.”
Santiago’s Jorden De La Mora scored a game-high 25 points to lead his team to a win over Pacifica, 50-43, in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 4AA playoffs Friday, Feb. 21. (Photo by David Delgado)
“That’s Jorden, it wasn’t unexpected or anything new,” Moorhouse said. “He’s been our most consistent player, but everybody helped in the game.”
Jayden Baude scored 10 points, Jerell Guidry added six points while Diego Bracamontes chipped in with five points in the second quarter. Anthony Bermudez provided great defense for the Cavaliers.
Tustin coach Ringo Bossenmeyer was in the crowd to lend support for Santiago. Moorhouse credits Bossenmeyer with teaching him how to run a program.
Moorhouse hinted at the possibility of this being his final season at Santiago, and he would like nothing more than to bring home the school’s first CIF championship before it’s all said and done.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen after this year, if I’m going to stay or go,” he said, “but this is my goal. This is a great way to cap it all off if this is it.”
As for Pacifica, it will have a 12-day layoff before the CIF SoCal Regional playoffs begin. Friedman is looking to continue the postseason with more memories.
Friedman earned his 400th career victory in the first round and witnessed Myles Salas hit a last-second, go-ahead shot over Tarbut V’Torah in the second round.
“I’ve enjoyed every moment of it and not taking it for granted, yet, not nervous, just really feeling like we belong here,” he said.
