Sports & Recreation

Was Portola High School’s First Senior Basketball Season a Slam Dunk?

image of a young basketball team in on a basketball court image of a young basketball team in on a basketball court

During only its second year having a boys varsity basketball team, the Portola High School Bulldogs claimed victory over the Irvine High Vaqueros on Feb. 6, earning a championship title in the Pacific Coast League.

The boys’ varsity team reached another milestone when they won their first CIF playoffs home game before losing to the top-ranked team, Providence High of Burbank, in the second round of CIF playoffs.

For seniors on the team, these two major accomplishments allow them to leave their mark within the program.

Portola High School opened in Irvine’s Great Park Neighborhoods in 2016 with only a freshman squad for basketball and other sports. The Bulldog boys basketball team went 22-1 in the inaugural season. “Our seniors were instrumental in the development of this program,” said Head Coach Brian Smith. “They have laid the foundation and groundwork for future players.”

The next season, that team continued its success as a junior varsity squad, going 20-6 for the season.

The 2018-2019 season brought the first varsity team to the program, finishing third in the league, and becoming the first Portola High School team to make the CIF playoffs.

From the start, the team hit milestone after milestone and this season proved no different.

Portola High School is located in Great Park Neighborhoods and is the newest high school within the nationally-renowned Irvine Unified School District. It was built as part of a public-private partnership between FivePoint’s joint venture, The Irvine Company, and Irvine Unified School District.