Palisades comes up just short against Bakersfield Christian

Jack Levey's three-pointer at the buzzer was off target as Palisades fell 59-57 in the Southern California Regional Division II final.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Palisades, the City Section Open Division boys basketball champions, battled Bakersfield Christian in a tense regional final but came up just short, losing 59-57 after Jack Levey's last-second three-pointer fell off target. Bakersfield Christian junior center Taiwo Daramola scored 28 points, including a key basket and free throw in the final minute to put his team ahead for good.

Why it matters

Palisades was seeking to make it a clean sweep for City Section schools on the boys basketball regional finals, after Birmingham and Sylmar had already won their respective divisions. The loss ends Palisades' hopes of reaching the state final, where they would have joined the school's girls team which had won the Division IV regional title earlier in the evening.

The details

Palisades, the eighth seed, battled back-and-forth with Bakersfield Christian throughout the game, leading after each of the first three quarters. But Bakersfield Christian's matchup zone defense gave Palisades problems, and they had no answer for the 6-foot-6 Daramola inside. Levey hit six three-pointers and finished with 21 points, while OJ Popoola added 20 for Palisades. But Daramola's late basket and free throw proved to be the difference as Bakersfield Christian held on for the 59-57 win.

  • Palisades won the City Section Open Division boys basketball title 11 days prior to this regional final matchup.
  • The Palisades girls team wrapped up a 54-38 victory over Godinez to claim the Division IV regional title 10 minutes before the boys game tipped off.

The players

Jack Levey

A senior guard for Palisades who led the City in three-pointers made this season and finished with 21 points, including six three-pointers, in the regional final.

OJ Popoola

A junior wing for Palisades who scored 20 points in the loss.

Taiwo Daramola

A junior center for Bakersfield Christian who scored a game-high 28 points, including a key basket and free throw in the final minute to put his team ahead for good.

Jeff Bryant

The head coach of Palisades, who guided the Dolphins to their first upper division City title since 1969 in only his second season.

Bort Escoto

The head coach of Sylmar, who won the Division V regional title on the same night.

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What they’re saying

“We can play with anyone in the state.”

— EJ Popoola, Junior wing, Palisades

“The plan was to get it in our best shooter's hands… we wanted to get Jack going downhill but they did a good job trapping him at half court. They killed us inside — we had no answer for their big man. Their matchup zone gave us problems. We couldn't figure out and we got stagnant.”

— Jeff Bryant, Head coach, Palisades

“I don't feel pressure. My teammates trust me, Our defensive strategy on that last play was simple — don't let them get a good look.”

— Taiwo Daramola, Junior center, Bakersfield Christian

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.