On Friday, January 31st, Calabasas High School clashed against Marmonte League foe Oaks Christian in a packed night of competition. The girls’ soccer and basketball teams celebrated their Senior Nights in front of home crowds at CHS, while the boys’ soccer and basketball teams traveled to Oaks Christian, where the Lions also honored their seniors. The Coyotes secured a victory in boys’ soccer but fell short in girls’ soccer, girls’ basketball, and boys’ basketball. Here’s how the action unfolded.
Girls Basketball: It has been a tough season for the Lady Coyotes, who have officially secured their first losing record in Marmonte League play since the 2019-20 season. After finishing 7-3 in the league last year and earning a CIF Division 2AA appearance, Calabasas felt the impact of key departures, including Maddy Tauro (now at CSU Fullerton), Jocelynn Townsend, Lia Hendelman, Ariella Harrison, and Erin Topacio. Entering Friday night’s game against Oaks Christian, the Lions rode a three-game win streak while the Coyotes were losers of four straight.
Oaks Christian set the tone early with a barrage of three-pointers and relentless full-court pressure, overwhelming Calabasas in the first quarter. Led by sophomore Presley Kushner’s hot shooting, the Lions built a commanding 31-12 lead. However, the Coyotes responded with an 11-0 run, fueled by Scarlett Weiner, Ava Yazdandoost, and Sophie Krikheli, cutting the deficit to ten and injecting some life into the game. Kushner responded with back-to-back threes, keeping Oaks Christian in control with a 43-27 lead at halftime. Calabasas fought in the third quarter and outscored the Lions 10-8, but a dominant final quarter sealed a 77-46 victory for Oaks Christian.
The Coyotes last game of the year is at Agoura High School on February 4, at 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Under the steady leadership of Coach Jon Palarz, Calabasas Boys Basketball is on track for a fourth consecutive winning season. Two years removed from Gavin Murphy’s departure, the Coyotes have remained competitive in the challenging Marmonte League. Sophomore guard Grayson Coleman, who has been an instrumental part of the team, dislocated his finger in the fourth league game of the year and has yet to return to the court for Calabasas. In Coleman’s absence, several Coyotes have stepped up, including Josh Ness, who poured in 27 points against Newbury Park and 29 points against Faith Baptist, and Tristan Cardoso, who averaged 16.3 points per game over a three-game stretch against Westlake and Thousand Oaks.
Friday’s showdown against the league-leading Lions was a formidable one, as the injury-riddled Coyotes (missing Grayson Coleman and Cayde Rooke) looked to take down an Oaks Christian team undefeated in Marmonte League play. An early lead at the end of the first quarter gave Calabasas a glimmer of hope, but Oaks Christian regained control in the second, with great rebounding and even better shooting. Senior guard Isayah Garcia tantalized the Coyotes from beyond the arc, while Boston College football commit Stevie Amar showcased his physicality—often seemingly unchecked by the officials. Despite 18 points and some electric dunks from sophomore Johnny Thyfault, Calabasas was ultimately overwhelmed and were swept by the Lions for the second year in a row.
Calabasas will look to finish 5-5 in league play at home against Agoura on February 4, at 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer: After not winning a Marmonte League game from 2016 to 2022, the Coyotes have shown a much fiercer competitive spirit in recent seasons, earning a combined 10 wins and ties over the past three years of league play. Much like the Calabasas boys basketball team, the Coyotes’ girls soccer team also faced a formidable opponent on Friday night, as undefeated Oaks Christian entered the matchup ranked No. 2 in California and No. 15 in the nation. Dating back to 2017, the Lions have dominated the series, outscoring Calabasas 65-3 over their last 15 meetings. The Coyotes’ lone non-loss in that span came exactly seven years prior, in a 1-1 tie.
Unfortunately, Oaks Christian played spoiler yet again on Calabasas’ Senior Night, securing a hard-fought victory behind goals from Jonnie-Jane Quiroz and Laila Haness.
Following a draw against Agoura three weeks ago, Calabasas will look to capture their first-ever multiple-win Marmonte League season on the road against the Chargers on February 4th at 7 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Last but certainly not least is the Calabasas boys soccer team, the only Coyotes squad to secure a victory on Friday night. Unlike the other three teams donning the black and gold, the Coyotes are in the midst of a program-best season, boasting a 7-1-1 record and holding sole possession of first place in the Marmonte League. Meanwhile, Oaks Christian is headed for its fourth consecutive sub-.500 league finish, and a loss to Westlake on Tuesday would drop the Lions to a dismal 5-29-1 record over the past two seasons.
After defeating Oaks Christian 5-1 and 3-1 in 2024, Calabasas aimed to extend its winning streak to four games against the Lions following a dominant 3-0 victory on January 15th. Powered by goals from Hadar Moskowitz, Cam Ghajar, and Chase Kamara, along with a clutch penalty save in the dying minutes of the second half, the Coyotes cruised to another commanding 3-0 win.
With one game left on the schedule, major implications are in play. A win against Agoura on February 4th would give Calabasas its first eight-win Marmonte League season since 2008 and secure a solo league title, their first since 2021. However, a loss paired with a Newbury Park victory over Thousand Oaks would result in the Coyotes sharing the championship. Either way, Calabasas will be lifting some hardware and punching its ticket to the CIF playoffs on Tuesday night.