Templeton sits atop Ocean League standings with Atascadero in second

NORTH COUNTY — In front of a packed gym on Tuesday night, Feb. 6, the Templeton High boys basketball team defeated Atascadero 62-53, in anticipation of battling for a CIF championship in boys basketball. 

“Tonight’s (Tuesday) win against Atascadero is the culmination of the tremendous amount of work by a talented group of young men who strive to get better every day,” said Eagles head coach Lawren Ramos. 

Ramos is a THS alumni whose dad once coached football at the high school. Last summer, Ramos pushed the student-athletes hard in anticipation of a great season. Templeton currently sits as number one in the Ocean league standings, with Atascadero in a close second. 

“I am very proud of what we have accomplished up to this point,” said Ramos of his team’s nearly undefeated season. “By continuing to sacrifice for each other, this team has the potential to be very special and hang the first CIF basketball championship in Thorndyke Gymnasium.” 

In January, the Eagles lost to the Greyhounds 72-70 in an overtime nail-biter. 

Star players on the Eagles this season included junior Trevon Carter Givens and senior Ryan McNamee.

Givens broke the Templeton’s single-season rebounding record and, going into Tuesday’s game, had 282 rebounds this season. He also broke the school record for blocks in a season with 74 so far, beating the old mark of 61. Givens has 15 “double-doubles,” making him a big player to watch.

McNamee was 12 assists away from breaking the record for assists in a season before Tuesday. He had 101 going into Tuesday’s game. McNamee has made 51 3-point shots this year after setting the school record last year with 77.

For the season, including non-league games, the Eagles are 20-6 and anticipating their entry into the CIF Central Section playoffs. 

Givens’s current stats include 14.5 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game, and 3 blocks per game. McNamee is 14 ppg, 7 rpg, and 4 assists per game.

The best boys’ basketball record in THS history was 21-6 under former head coach Andrew Cherry, whose son Luke Cherry is a senior starter on this year’s team. They are hoping to break that record.

This Friday, the Eagles will play against Nipomo, who holds a 9-17 season record. The Greyhounds will face Lompoc, who hold a 5-15 record for the season.

Feature Image and Gallery: The Templeton and Atascadero boys basketball team played a hard-fought contest on Tuesday, Feb. 6, with the Eagles coming out on top 62-53. The Eagles and Greyhounds split their season series, with Atascadero previously beating Templeton 72-70 in overtime. Photos by Rick Evans