It was a tough night for Gilbert Arenas’ son Alijah. For the second straight year, the Chatsworth star found himself on the losing end of a CIF State final. This time, Jesuit’s suffocating zone defense proved to be the difference, shutting down key opportunities and handing Chatsworth a 66-53 loss in the Division 2 championship game at Golden 1 Center. Despite Alijah’s best efforts, the dream of a state title slipped away once again.
Still, the loss didn’t take away from what Alijah has been doing all season. The McDonald’s All-American and USC commit has been nothing short of unstoppable, averaging 30 points per game. On any given night, he can explode for 40, 50, or even 60 points—he’s already done it multiple times. His offensive firepower makes him one of the most dangerous scorers in high school basketball.
And on this night, he reached another milestone. With 22 points against Jesuit, Alijah pushed his career total to 3,002 points. What’s even more impressive? He did it in just three years after reclassifying to the class of 2025. That feat puts him in the elite company, where his father, a former Warriors’ star, even failed to reach. What’s that?
He’s now just the 15th player in CIF history to reach 3,000 career points and the first ever from the LA City Section. His 22-point effort came on 8-of-21 shooting, though he struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just one of seven attempts.
More importantly, it marked the end of an era. This was Alijah’s final game wearing a Chatsworth uniform. He left everything on the court, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to lift his team to victory. Still, with 3,000 points to his name, his legacy is cemented.
Alijah Arenas’ emotional Chatsworth farewell
It was a heartbreaking scene at Golden 1 Center. Alijah Arenas, eyes filled with emotion, stood at mid-court, embracing each of his Chatsworth teammates as their names were called. The pain of a second straight state final loss was heavy, especially after missing all seven of his shots in the fourth quarter of a 66-53 defeat to Jesuit. It wasn’t the ending he had envisioned, but it was clear—this game meant everything to him.
Still, Arenas didn’t make excuses. “We should have played harder,” he admitted after the game. “It was effort, (Jesuit) had more of it on both ends. We should have stuck together a little-bit more.” His words hung in the air, raw and honest. “I feel more of the story was effort on both ends. They had more heart,” he also said.
In the interview room, his coach, Sam Harris, struggled to speak at first, overcome with emotion. The loss wasn’t just another game—it was the end of a special journey. For the Chancellors, this one hurt even more. After coming up short in last year’s Division IV final, they had worked tirelessly to get back here. Arenas led the way, but he wasn’t alone—this team had fought together all season.
“We were happy to be here, but this is tough,” Harris said. “It’s a special group. We didn’t knock down enough shots.”
Yet, Arenas’ legacy is undeniable. He is leaving as the all-time City Section scoring leader, a McDonald’s All-American, and a player whose No. 0 jersey will one day hang in Chatsworth’s gym—right where it belongs.
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