ECR Basketball Championship History

El Camino Real boys basketball did something in 2014 that no team before them as done. The ECR boys basketball team won the 2014 Division 1 LA-City Championship by beating the favorite 12-time City Champions Westchester by a score of 58-56 in Joe Wyatts first year as Head Coach of the ECR boys basketball program. Maleke Haynes came up big in the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer that broke Westchester’s back and then nailed four big free-throws to seal the victory for the Conquistadores. Haynes finished the game with 16 points, Evan Wardlow finished with 15 points, Julian Richardson finished with 10 points and Kelton Conway finished with eight points for the Conquistadores.

2012 was the year the ECR Boys Basketball Program won its first ever LA-City Championship by defeating Garfield 62-53 in the D2 LA-City Final. Coach David Rebibo led the ECR boys basketball to the programs first ever city championship. Julian Richardson led ECR in scoring with 27 points and had a key three-pointer in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Micheal Thomas finished with a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Conquistadores.

The 2015 ECR basketball team was led by Chris Terry who was named West Valley League West Valley League player of the year voted by the coaches in the league. Brandon Russell and Josiah Woods were voted in as all-league players as well.

The 26 wins were the most in El Camino Real basketball program history and the most ever by a first-year head coach, Joe Wyatt. The 2014 team was led by West Valley League MVP Evan Wardlow, along with all-league selections Julian Richardson and Maleke Haynes.

The 2013 Conquistadors enjoyed a landmark season under head coach David Rebibo, setting a program record with 28 wins—the most in El Camino Real basketball history. That historic success was reflected in the league honors, as an extraordinary nine players earned All–West Valley League recognition.

Leading the way was Michael Thomas, who was named West Valley League MVP. Julian Richardson, Maleke Haynes, and Evan Wardlow were selected to the First Team All-League, while Mason Pollock, Cris Francis, and Kelton Conway earned Second Team All-League honors. Blair Orr and Julian Rochelin rounded out the accolades with Honorable Mention selections, highlighting the depth and talent of one of the most accomplished teams in program history.

Coached by Mike McNulty, the 1989 Conquistadors were led by Brent Lofton and Jason Farrell and closed the regular season with a powerful surge, winning seven of their final eight games. That late-season run secured a league championship and propelled El Camino Real into a deep playoff push.

Riding that momentum, the Conquistadors advanced to within one game of reaching the LA Sports Arena, placing the 1989 team among the most successful and memorable postseason runs in program history.

Under first-year head coach Mike McNulty, the Conquistadors captured the West Valley League Championship in 1983, marking an impressive debut season for the program’s new leadership. El Camino Real advanced to the LA City playoffs, where its postseason run came to an end against Dorsey.

The team’s success was driven by standout performances from Doug Young and Tim Preston. Young led the Conquistadors in scoring at 20 points per game and was named the West Valley League MVP for the 1983 season, while Preston provided a strong scoring complement, averaging 18 points per game. Together, they formed one of the most formidable offensive duos in program history.

Head Coach Blaine Crowther later described the 1978 squad as “the best team in El Camino Real basketball history.” The roster featured an experienced core of twelve seniors complemented by two juniors. The team’s offensive leaders were Bob White and Marshall Plantz, while key contributions also came from Robert “Red” Williams, Greg Kimberly, Frank Ferguson, Chris Ward, Rich Gray, and Jeff Davis.

Momentum for the historic season began in the summer of 1977, when the team captured the Summer League City Championship. That success carried seamlessly into league play, as El Camino Real posted a dominant 9–1 record to claim the West Valley League Championship.

The 1978 team came within reach of a 3A City Championship, but its title run ended in heartbreaking fashion with an 86–85 double-overtime loss to North Hollywood in the semifinal round—one of the most dramatic finishes in program history.

El Camino Real’s 1972 varsity basketball team was widely regarded as the best in school history at the time, accomplishing the feat in just the program’s third year of competitive play. The Conquistadors were led by Ken Thompson, who was named West Valley League Player of the Year in 1972.

Key contributions also came from Mike McNulty, Dave George, Bruce Wright, and Jim Coleman, forming a well-balanced and talented roster. That season, El Camino Real captured its first-ever West Valley League Championship and earned its first postseason victory. The playoff run came to an end in the second round with a narrow three-point loss to fourth-ranked Locke High, marking a breakthrough season that helped establish the foundation of the program’s future success.

El Camino Real captured the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Tournament Championship with an impressive run that included victories over Turlock, University (San Francisco), Weston Ranch, and host Modesto Christian in the championship game.

ECR captured the Pasadena Rose City Tournament Championship by beating Granite Hills, CSHM, Leuzinger, and Pasadena. Maleke Haynes and Julian Richardson were name All-Tournament and Micheal Thomas was named tournament MVP.

El Camino Real overcame its own mistakes and survived a chaotic finish to capture the Slam Jam Silver Tournament Championship. The Conquistadores had to rally from a 33–23 halftime deficit, their largest hole coming at 31–22 when LACES guard Rodney Williams capped a 10–1 run with a three-pointer just before the break.

ECR responded immediately, storming out of halftime with an 11–0 run to seize momentum. Todd Wolfson, who enjoyed an outstanding tournament, finished the surge with two of his team-high 17 points. The Conquistadores extended their advantage to 45–37, but LACES answered with a run of its own, eventually tying the game 48–48 with 5:10 remaining.

ECR regained control, edging ahead 52–49, before Rai Colston provided breathing room with four crucial points to make it 56–49. On the defensive end, Wolfson and sophomore Jordan Warren controlled the paint with timely shot-blocking, frustrating LACES’ interior attack. Fellow sophomore Nick Kindel delivered a strong shooting performance, knocking down four three-pointers and finishing with 12 points.

Then came the wild finish.

Holding a 60–55 lead in the final seconds, ECR appeared poised to close it out, but LACES caught a break by scoring quickly and calling timeout with 4.4 seconds left to cut the deficit to 60–57. After the ensuing timeout, disaster nearly struck as ECR mistakenly had six players on the court during the inbounds play. The infraction resulted in a technical foul, awarding LACES two free throws, possession, and no time off the clock.

Both free throws were missed, and LACES’ final three-point attempt at the buzzer rattled off the rim, sealing the victory and the championship for the El Camino Real Conquistadores.

Wolfson led all scorers with 17 points, while Colston and Kindel each added 12, and Warren chipped in 8 as ECR emerged as Slam Jam Silver Tournament Champions.

The El Camino Real Conquistadores surged past the Malibu Sharks, 71–44, to advance to the Silver Division Championship of the Slam Jam Tournament. Todd Wolfson led all scorers with 17 points, while Rai Colston and Nick Kindel each chipped in 12, showcasing a balanced and efficient offensive attack.

Malibu was led by guards Zak Katz and Shane Mahoney, along with interior presence Thomas Oden, but El Camino Real’s depth and sustained defensive pressure proved overwhelming over four quarters. The game’s most electric stretch came when Katz and Kindel engaged in a sharpshooting duel, trading three-pointers in rapid succession and briefly energizing the Sharks. Each response from Katz, however, was quickly answered by Kindel, preventing Malibu from building any momentum.

As the game progressed, the Conquistadores tightened defensively, controlled the tempo, and capitalized on timely shooting to turn a competitive first half into a commanding victory. The win propelled El Camino Real into the Silver Division final with confidence and momentum firmly on its side.

2002 Slam N Jam Bronze Tournament Champions

El Camino Real asserted control early and never looked back, rolling past Hillcrest Christian to claim the 2002 Slam N Jam Bronze Tournament Championship. The Conquistadores built a commanding lead and withstood a brief Hillcrest rally after the deficit had grown to 73–42, ultimately pulling away behind a balanced and relentless offensive attack.

Rai Colston led all scorers with 23 points, setting the tone throughout, while Todd Wolfson added 17. Roman Veytsman delivered a breakout performance, pouring in 15 points on five three-pointers, and Edan Barouch chipped in 12. Nick Kindel rounded out the scoring with 5 points as El Camino Real’s depth proved too much for Hillcrest to overcome.

The convincing victory capped a dominant tournament run and secured the Bronze Division title for the Conquistadores.

The semifinal matchup was a nail-biter from start to finish, with El Camino Real and Mission Prep trading blows all the way to the final horn. Neither team led comfortably as the game swung back and forth through four tense quarters.

With time winding down, Roman Veytsman delivered the decisive moment, drilling a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Conquistadores to a thrilling victory. Veytsman led all scorers with 15 points, knocking down five three-pointers, while Todd Wolfson added 13, Nick Kindel scored 11, and Jonathan Gibbs chipped in 10 in a balanced offensive effort.