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The story of San Juan as told by its students

The Express
The story of San Juan as told by its students

The Express
The story of San Juan as told by its students

The Express
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Broken Record Alert: Mason Hodges Becomes All-Time Leading Point Holder

Audrey Tillotson, Staff Writer • January 17, 2025
Audrey Tillotson
During the first boys varsity basketball game of the 2025 season against Dana Hills on January 13, Mason Hodges jumps to earn two points for his team. The Stallions won 83-58 giving them a great start to the season. Hodges will play a key role in his final season.

Mason Hodges is laying it all on the court in his final high school basketball season. He has been on the boys varsity basketball team since his freshman year and has been a solid starter for the past three years. He has also been one of the team captains since his sophomore year. 

During preseason, he became the first SJHHS basketball player to reach 1,000 points. According to Max Preps, he is averaging about 25 points per game this season, making him a key player on the team. Currently, Hodges is also one of the top three scorers and rebounders in Orange County. 

The boys varsity basketball Head Coach Jason Efstathiou is very proud of Hodges and “not surprised” by him accumulating 1000 points.

“He is a total team player and honestly with the team style of basketball we play, that is an extremely hard record to break. It is truly impressive,” said Coach Efstathiou.

Hodge’s basketball journey started when he was four years old and he plans to continue playing in college. He has received multiple offers from colleges, but he has not found the right school for him yet.

“I’m not sure where yet but I’m definitely going to,” said Hodges.

Because this is his last year of high school basketball, Hodges wants to make it count. As an experienced senior, he is one of the leaders on the team.

“I feel like there’s more pressure because it’s my last year of high school and I am not going to be able to come back here and I have a more important role. I feel like we can do something special with this team. There’s been a lot of focus and work put in,” said Hodges. 

Based on Hodge’s recent performances, his confidence in his abilities has been evident due to his hard work on and off the court.

“Working on my game by myself makes me more comfortable when I’m in the game because I know I can hit this move, get to this spot, and knock down the open looks. I’ve gotten a lot stronger and it definitely makes my life easier when I’m playing,” said Hodges.” said Hodges. 

While Hodges is honored to hold the most points in school history, he is a team player as he cares more about his team’s success than his own. Hodges is going for gold as he hopes to achieve great things with his team. 

“It’s really cool but most importantly I want to get a banner in the gym for a league title or a CIF title. We want to end our last game of the season with a win and hopefully that’s in the playoffs,” said Hodges. 

Hodges has had an excellent high school basketball career and he plans to end it on a high note alongside his teammates. As for his goals beyond high school, Hodges is dreaming big. 

“I want to play in March Madness, that’s my goal. It’s the NCAA tournament for Division 1 men’s basketball,” said Hodges. 

Come support Hodges and his team at their upcoming league games or follow their Instagram @sjhboysbasketball to stay updated.

Boys Varsity Basketball Schedule 

Mason Hodges, his teammates, and coaches celebrated him becoming the all-time leading point holder in SJHHS varsity basketball history at the 1,000 points career night. To Hodges, this group feels like “family.” (Jason Efstathiou)
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About the Contributor
Audrey Tillotson
Audrey Tillotson, Staff Writer
Audrey Tillotson is a senior at San Juan Hills High School and this is her first year in Newspaper. She is on the varsity girls’ soccer team and she wants to continue to play soccer in college. She joined The Express to grow her writing skills, public speaking abilities, collaboration skills, and critical thinking. This year, she wants to write about sports and interesting events going on in the world that students can relate to or find interesting or even inspiring. She enjoys playing soccer, going to the beach, spending time with family and friends, collecting sea glass, and learning new things. Her dream is to become a psychologist to help people overcome mental challenges. Audrey hopes to make a positive impact on The Express this year and continue to develop solid writing skills. 
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