The Calabasas Coyotes opened their CIF Southern Section Playoffs in dominant fashion, securing a 78-54 home victory over Millikan behind a balanced offensive attack and lockdown defense. However, their season came to an end in the second round with an 82-61 loss on the road against San Juan Hills.
The Millikan Rams were awaiting the Coyotes in the first round of their third consecutive Division 2AA playoff appearance. Led by Tariq Bridges and Joseph Wicker (both of whom have scored over 1,000 points in their high school careers), the Rams bounced back in the 2024-2025 season after a two-year playoff absence. The Rams bounced back in the 2024-2025 season after a two-year playoff absence. With an 8-4 record in the competitive Moore League, Millikan secured its first CIF-Playoff appearance since a Division IV Quarterfinal run in 2022.
Calabasas and Millikan traded baskets throughout the opening quarter, with neither team gaining separation. Millikan’s Isma’il Abdul-Rahman proved to be a tough matchup, carrying the Rams’ offense early. As the final seconds of the quarter ticked away, sophomore Grayson Coleman delivered a momentum-shifting three from just inside half-court to tie the game at 14. Coleman showed little rust as he returned from a seven-game absence after dislocating his finger in a loss against Westlake High School on January 21st.
Fueled by an increased offensive urgency, the Coyotes began to take control in the second quarter. Coleman continued his hot shooting from beyond the arc, while junior Calvin Goetz also provided a spark from deep. Sophomore Johnny Thyfault proved unstoppable getting to the free-throw line, and junior Tristan Cardoso’s sharpshooting continued the Coyotes’ rampage from downtown. Despite Abdul-Rahman’s scoring efforts for Millikan, Calabasas went into halftime leading 37-30.
Coming out of the break, Coleman, who led all scorers with 21 points, set the tone early with a pair of tough layups to stretch the lead to 44-30 and force a Millikan timeout. Senior Josh Ness added to the momentum with a putback bucket, and the Coyotes’ defense held Millikan scoreless for the first six minutes of the third quarter. Goetz, who finished with 17 points, and Cardoso continued to knock down threes, pushing the lead to 60-38 heading into the fourth quarter.
Calabasas kept its foot on the gas in the final frame. Thyfault, who totaled 19 points, remained a force on the offensive glass and converted an and-one layup to extend the lead. He later put an exclamation mark on the win with back-to-back dunks, making it 71-45. With both teams emptying their benches, junior Gunnar Goldberg capped the night with a three-pointer, sealing the 78-54 victory.
Calabasas’ victory over Millikan marked their first CIF-Playoff win since the 2022 season, when Gavin Murphy led the Coyotes to the Division 2A Quarterfinals with wins over Buena and Santa Monica before falling in overtime to La Mirada.
After hosting their first-round matchup, the Coyotes traveled 90 miles to San Juan Hills High School for a tough second-round test against the 2022 CIF-Division 2AA champions. Facing a disciplined Stallions squad, Calabasas struggled to find its rhythm early, falling behind in the first half. Despite strong efforts from junior Tristan Cardoso, who led the team with 12 points, and seniors Ness and Thyfault, who each added 10 points, the Coyotes were unable to overcome San Juan Hills offensive firepower.
Coleman and Goetz each scored nine points, but Calabasas had difficulty replicating the balanced attack that allowed them to cruise past Milikan. The Stallions capitalized on defensive lapses and maintained control throughout the game, ultimately defeating the Coyotes 82-61.
“They played very well together as a group and shared the ball well,” said Coleman. “On the other side they had great defensive energy and we failed to match that.”
With the loss, Calabasas closed the season with an 18-12 record (third straight year with exactly 18 wins), marking another competitive campaign and their 16th CIF Playoff appearance in the last 17 years. While their postseason run ended earlier than hoped, the Coyotes’ young core, led by Coleman, Thyfault, Goetz, and Cardoso, showcased promise for the future as they look to build on this year’s success.
