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On Mar. 13, 2026, San Marin High School’s boys’ basketball team won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Division V Championship Game against Sylmar High School at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA. This is the first time in San Marin history that they have won the state championship.
“We could not be more proud of these players, Coach Lavdiotis, and the entire coaching staff,” Principal Andy Boone said in an email sent out to parents and students on March 15. “This is what happens when kids believe in each other and refuse to quit.”
During San Marin’s playoff run in the North Coast Section (NCS) Division IV (D4) playoffs, No. 4 Mission San Jose High School upset the No. 1 San Marin Mustangs, 49-40, to secure a place in the NCS championship game. After the loss, San Marin beat Alhambra High School 86-68 to place No. 3 in the NCS D4 bracket, and Mission San Jose beat No. 2 Rancho Cotate High School to win the NCS D4 Championship game.
“We knew that this was a ride or die season and if we didn’t make our legacy this year, we would never have the opportunity to again,” senior guard Miller Morgan said. “We haven’t really viewed any games as upsets or us being underdogs. We just go [into games like] we’re the best team on the court every single night and hope it pays off,”
Morgan is the Captain of the Varsity basketball team and has been on the Varsity team since his sophomore year. He has seen the team lose and gain players throughout the years, and attributes the basketball team’s success this year to the stability within the team.
“Last year we only had six people that got play time,” Morgan said. “This year we had nine returning seniors and about 8 of them got consistent play time. I think we just came together as a group and put it together. It paid off and we can end our careers on the highest note possible.”
In the CIF Division V (D5) playoffs, San Marin was seeded No. 3, and in their game against No. 6 Woodland Christian High School, crushed them 69-30, sending the Mustangs to face off No. 2 Rancho Cotate. The game ran close for most quarters, until a few free throws gave San Marin the lead. San Marin upset Rancho Cotate 54-47, slated to rematch the now No. 1 Mission San Jose, who was coming off a two-round bye. San Marin ultimately upset Mission San Jose 56-46, with a 3-point field goal giving the Mustangs the lead—and the chance to play in their first state championship.
“It’s been really exciting to watch our team grow over the course of the season,” Derrick Young, uncle of senior forward Jackson Young, said. “Early on we were still figuring things out, [like their] chemistry, roles, and how we wanted to play. But week by week you could see the confidence building. I believe a big part of this was due to having so many football players on the team who came out late.”
Fan attendance was a priority of San Marin administrators during the championship game.
“The atmosphere at home games was incredible during the regular season,” Young said. “The student section showed up loud, and families were always there supporting the team. Unfortunately, the playoff games really lacked student participation until the state championship game which the student body really came out for.”
Once the championship game’s time and place was set, San Marin provided a bus for students who wanted to attend the game to support the team.
“Three buses will depart from campus tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. sharp with a police escort: the team bus, the cheer bus, and a student bus,” Boone said in an email on March 12. “Come out and send our Mustangs off in style! If you can find a way to Sacramento tomorrow, we would love to help fill Golden 1 Center with green and gold. Our players deserve to look up and see their community in the stands.”
San Marin beat Sylmar High School, the winners of Southern California (SoCal) division, 89-64, in a battle for each respective school’s first State Championship. The Mustangs ended the first quarter up 14 points, holding Sylmar to only 17 points. Sylmar soon came back, tying San Marin 31 in the second quarter. The Mustangs then got the lead with a two-point shot from senior guard Miller Morgan. San Marin went into halftime recording 23 rebounds, 1/10 in three-point attempts, and 17/37 from field goal range. Sylmar soon took the lead in the third quarter with the score being 41-39. By the second half, San Marin’s offense had been able to outscore Sylmar by nearly 20 points. Up 23 points with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter, San Marin took out their starters and put in the bench players, in which one final two-point field goal from sophomore guard Eli Dunning put the Mustangs up 25 points. For the first time in San Marin Boys’ Basketball history, the Mustangs are state champions.
“As a fan of San Marin, you watch these players work all season, putting in the hours and representing the school with pride,” Young said. “Seeing them reach the top and win a state championship is an incredible feeling. It’s not just a win for the team but it’s a win for the whole community. Go Mustangs!”
