The CORE Butte boys varsity basketball team wrapped up play in the Oroville tournament on Saturday afternoon, falling 61-27 to Portola High School in a seventh-place matchup at Oroville High School’s gymnasium.
The game marked CORE’s third and final contest of the tournament. The Lynx entered with a 0-10 record, while Portola came in at 9-7. Despite the final score, CORE showed early energy and competitiveness before depth and outside shooting swung the game in Portola’s favor.
CORE struck first at 3:02 p.m. when they opened the game with a three-pointer, immediately answered by a Portola three on the other end. The teams traded baskets early, and after two quick CORE scores at 3:10, the game was tied 7-7. Momentum shifted moments later when sophomore Sam Nystrom, a shooting guard/point guard for CORE, was hit in the eye and forced to leave the game until the fourth quarter. Already short-handed, the Lynx were down another key player. Portola closed the quarter on a run, taking a 10-7 lead at the end of the first.
Portola began to separate in the second quarter, leaning heavily on outside shooting. Their senior guard Edward Callabero knocked down multiple three-pointers as the Tigers extended their lead. CORE struggled to keep pace offensively, and Portola’s steady scoring pushed the margin to 29-12 by halftime.
The Tigers continued to control the game in the third quarter, opening with another three-pointer and maintaining pressure on both ends of the floor. CORE found some offensive rhythm late in the period, including a three-pointer and several baskets in transition, but Portola responded shot-for-shot. The quarter ended with Portola ahead 42-20.
Sam returned to the lineup at the start of the fourth quarter, providing a brief boost for CORE. The Lynx picked up points at the free-throw line and continued to compete, but the depth proved too much. The Panthers closed out the game at 4:10 p.m. with a 61-27 victory.
The loss drops CORE Butte to 0-11 on the season and places the Lynx eighth out of eight teams in the Oroville tournament. Portola improves to 10-7.
After the game, head coach Ben Salberg pointed to intensity and effort as key takeaways, especially given the team’s limited roster.
“If we get up to play when we’re down guys, this happens,” he said. “We were down four guys, then Sam gets hurt, and we’re down five, playing with six most of the game. I think they realized they had to bring intensity. But they need to bring that extra intensity every single game, not just when we’re missing people or guys are hurt.”
Coach noted that Portola’s shooters made it difficult to stay competitive but emphasized growth and experience.
“They’ve got guys knocking down shot after shot, and they’re good,” he said. “Our guys are learning. We’re really young, and that experience matters.”
Looking ahead, CORE will open league play next week with a home game on Tuesday against Los Molinos, followed by another home game on Friday against Chester HS.