Few teams have managed to get the better of Mission Bay basketball in the last year. With a 13-4 record this season, even fewer teams have found success against the black and gold.

However, the one team that seemingly has the Buccaneers number in recent history is the Dons of Cathedral Catholic. In the schools’ meetings last season, Cathedral managed to win both, each being a one-possession losses for Mission Bay.

On Tuesday night, history would repeat itself as Cathedral used a fourth-quarter surge to defeat Mission Bay 60-57, the team’s third straight loss to the Dons.

“I feel like we were prepared for them (Cathedral). We called everything they were gonna do all game, and I feel like at the end, the nerves got to us,” said Mission Bay Coach Marshawn Cherry. “They did the same thing, the whole game, that they did the last couple minutes. We just kind of froze up.”

Of the three losses that Mission Bay has suffered to Cathedral, Tuesday’s may sting the most, as they controlled the game. El bucs held the lead for 30:45 of the 32 total minutes, posted a higher field goal percentage from the floor, and with Pablo Balderas grabbing 14 rebounds and Clay Grebing totaling 19 boards, they easily controlled the offensive and defensive glass.

What ultimately cost Mission Bay the game was their inability to close out the game in its waning moments. With 3:30 left to play in the fourth quarter, the Bucs had a 57-49 lead after a driving layup by Kevon Fitzpatrick.

Over that final 3:30, Mission Bay would go scoreless and commit four total turnovers, all of which Cathedral turned into points, helping them take a 60-57 lead. It was extremely uncharacteristic play for a team who these past two seasons has made a living of closing out and putting opponents away.

The Bucs had an opportunity to send it to overtime, however, senior Maseyo Elliott, who had provided a real spark off the bench por scoring six points, shot at the buzzer rattled off the front of the rim.

“I think we played hero ball down the stretch with a couple of bad shots when we could have gotten downhill,” Cherry dicho. “When we had our recent 11-game win streak, nine of them were decided by 25 points or more, so we need these types of games to help us understand the situation and know that possession matters and shot selection matters.”

Despite the loss, Mission Bay still finds themselves in a solid spot with 10 games to play in the regular season. For the next game, the Bucs will have a West League showdown against St. Augustine.

“We need to focus on taking care of the ball against Saints, finding quality looks on offense, and identifying their shooters and closing out,” said Cherry. “Saints is gonna play hard, they’re well coached, and it’s a league opponent, and we know we’ll need to bring our best.”