December 17, 2025

Written by Brad Peters

RIVERSIDE:  Playing ball while studying for final exams is always a balancing act and a tough ask.  In an academic week like the one most schools experience at this time of the year, to focus on a game in the midst of preparing for a Final can be a tightrope walk.

The girls basketball team played Ramona High on Tuesday night and both RUSD teams had the same walk to walk.  Ramona would end up victorious by a slim one point, 58-57.

“It was a tough loss,” admitted coach Jesus Martinez of King.  “The Ramona team played very tough and physical.”

It didn’t help matters that MLK couldn’t get going offensively and struggled against Ramona’s size and constant pressure.  King’s Martha Firmo was an exception to that as the senior scored 22 points and dished 7 assists.

No team lead by more than 5 points throughout the contest and it was ultimately decided with 16 seconds left in the game when a Ramona player went the entire court to lay it up and secure the win.

After the game, Firmo urged her teammates to “put this one behind us and move on.”

Fortunately for the now 11-4 Wolves, this wasn’t the final exam for their season — as the season is still young — and the “move on” won’t wait as they play Xavier Prep at home tonight.