To the uninitiated, Coronado and Point Loma seem strikingly similar: beautiful beaches, sweeping sights of downtown and rich military history. And yet, to the Islanders of Coronado High School and Pointers of Point Loma High School, the two communities couldn’t be more different.
The rivalry may seem trivial to outsiders, but the students see it as something else: a chance to represent their community—and win.
The Islanders host the Point Loma Pointers at Coronado High School at 6 p.m. on Jan. 3.
A storied rivalry
Students say a victory in a Coronado-Point Loma face-off carries a special weight unlike other regular-season games, like a Padres victory over the Dodgers.
The outcome of the game has always held some unofficial geographic significance too: Coronado’s designation as an island.
Despite the Coronado students’ identity as “Islanders,” students of Point Loma High claim that, due to the Silver Strand, Coronado is technically a peninsula. The reigning belief always aligns with the victor; Islanders fight to defend their title, while the Pointers play to correct a perceived error.
In the past, the storied rivalry between CHS and PLHS featured far more than just passionate student bodies arguing over a land mass. The schools would work in conjunction with local police to take preventative action for a slew of hazards—from feuds on social-media to postgame skirmishes in the parking lot.
Much to the pleasure of the schools’ administrations, the rivalry has died down in recent years. Still, the passion remains among the students.
“When I was in eighth grade I went to watch the game at Point Loma. The energy is crazy. The whole school is out there.”
-Tekur Velazquez, senior varsity basketball player.
“When I was in eighth grade I went to watch the game at Point Loma,” said varsity senior Tekur Velazquez. “The energy is crazy. The whole school is out there.”
Velazquez admits that the energy between the schools has waned, but his eighth grade experience fuels his desire to bring the rivalry into the limelight once more.
Heading into the new year
Going into the new year, the Coronado boys basketball team laid claim to a 3-11 record after their 71-63 win against Bishop’s on Dec. 30.
This win was the last of three games in a rigorous stretch in North County for tournament play from Dec. 27 to Dec. 30.
“It’s our turning point, we have to come out with a lot of energy and play our game,” junior Jimmy Lavine said about the season ahead of them “If we play our game, we’re unstoppable.”
At practice, Head Coach Anthony Ott creates the high-energy environment that pushes his players to thrive and find their own game. The players not only practice their individual craft, but push their teammates to grow in the process.
‘Intense situations’ ahead
Loxly Johnson, a junior on the varsity team, acknowledged the importance of practice even while the rest of the school is on vacation.
“Iron sharpens iron. We have to play our best with each other. It’s going to prepare us for games and those intense situations.”
-Loxly Johnson, junior varsity basketball player.
“Iron sharpens iron,” Johnson said. “We have to play our best with each other. It’s going to prepare us for games and those intense situations.”
With no opportunities to rest, tournament play in high school sports takes a toll on the players and coaches. Factor in travel to the host-site in Carlsbad, and it’s clear that the three-day tournament offers plenty of adversity for the Islanders.
Just three rest days separate CHS from the tournament and their anticipated meeting with PLHS on Jan. 3.
The Pointers played a five-day, five-game stretch from Dec. 18 to Dec. 22, and have sat on their 9-5 record since. That means the Pointers will have had 11 rest days prior to crossing the bridge to take on CHS.
With the Islanders’ busy schedule leading into the new year, perhaps their shooters will be sharper and their game will be cleaner. But one thing is for certain: if the Pointers basketball team shares even half the energy of the Islanders, there will be no shortage of “intense situations” between the two rivals on the hardwood.
