The Loyola Marymount men’s basketball program has made quite the inroads to Inland Empire basketball programs.

Just a couple weeks after landing a commitment of Eli Scott of Chino Hills, the Lions got another as Joe Quintana of Bonita made a verbal commitment to the program.

Quintana, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, is a two-time All-Inland Valley and CIF selection. Last year he led the Bearcats (28-7) to the Division 3AA championship game.

He is noted for his 3-point prowess and poise in pressure situations.

Quintana took his official visit to the school with his parents and two brothers and liked the “family” feel he got and liked that it was relatively close to home.

The style of play was also a factor.

“The style of play is a lot like we play at Bonita so I am going to feel comfortable there,” he said. “It really was a good fit all the way around because I didn’t want to go too far away.”

Quintana also had offers from Utah Valley, UC Riverside, Pepperdine and Campbell (N.C.) but he didn’t take any other visits. Pepperdine likely would have been the next option but Quintana took that one out of the equation when the school landed two other guard commits.

Quintana plans to major in kinesiology or sports medicine.

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The Bonita boys basketball team has been a little under the radar. Perhaps it has been overshadowed by the showing of fellow Palomares League champion Ayala but the Bearcats are having quite the postseason too.

Bonita (24-5) hits the road for a Division 3-AA semifinal at Calabasas (24-6). It’s a repeat trip to the semifinal for coach Tim Godley’s team which was sent home last year by Gahr.

Godley graduated six players from that team, three of those significant contributors. So the Bearcats have plenty of players with playoff experience, most notably leading scorer Joe Quintana, a starter and All-Inland Valley selection last year as a sophomore.
It was Quintana who hit the game-winning 3-point in overtime the last game of the regular season against Ayala.

Godley said while the momentum might not exactly carry over his team has benefited from pulling out some close games, most notable that one.

“It’s a confidence builder more than anything else,” Godley said. “Our guys know they can pull out a game like that against a quality team.”

While Quintana has been the leader, Godley also singled out the contributions of much improved players in guards Yoofi Monney and Russell Hernandez and forward Anthony Cascarano – all seniors.

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