On Tuesday, Jan. 20, boys’ varsity basketball fought hard against their rivals, the Branson Bulls, at College of Marin (COM), losing 52-49 in a nail-biting finish. Even with the game being played at the start of the school week, the student section turned out, decked in all red and bringing the energy to the gymnasium.
The Giants started the game off strong, with senior captain Jake Post initially scoring a two-point layup before knocking down a three-point shot from the corner. The game stayed competitive through the first half with many back-and-forth possessions, but the Giants ultimately went into the locker room down 30-24.
After trailing for most of the first half, Redwood looked to adjust and focus on offensive execution and ball movement. Junior forward Harrington White described the team’s strategy coming out of halftime.
“We were trying to count on the scout that we had throughout the week preparing for the game and making plays. In the first half, it didn’t go well, but the second half went better,” White said.
Stepping straight into the third quarter, the Bulls capitalized on a quick stop and three-point shot from junior NJ Gray to extend their lead by nine. Redwood continued to turn the ball over and sent Gray to the line, where he sank one of two free throws.
Nearing the end of the quarter, the Giants quickly fought back as senior captain Charlie Poser made a strong finish at the basket, junior Wes Fitzpatrick earned an and-one and junior Olen Johnson quickly turned-over the ball with a finish at the rim, putting the game within six. Redwood gained momentum as the Bulls got in foul trouble, giving the Giants some needed opportunities. Post nailed a jump shot at the buzzer, closing the quarter to make it a tight three-point game.
Post carried the Giants throughout the night, gaining 22 points, while the rest of the Giants had single-digit scoring nights. Juniors Max Monterastelli and Fitzpatrick both contributed six points, assisting in keeping the game competitive in the final minutes.
The fourth and final quarter was a back-and-forth battle. Branson held a 47-42 lead with two minutes and 30 seconds on the clock, then 49-44 with a minute and 43 seconds. The Bulls were able to run time off the clock, drawing fouls and going to the line, but missed opportunities and free throws allowed the Giants to stay close. Monterastelli nailed both of his free throws to cut the deficit to 49-46.
After winning a jump ball, Coach Jay DeMaestri called a timeout to set up a potential comeback. Senior captain Richard Byrne lost the ball on a drive, giving Branson two more free throws. Post responded with another corner three in front of the student section, and the Giants’ defense was able to stop Bulls’ player Gabe Halbrecht from inbounding the ball to a teammate, throwing it out of bounds. With one last opportunity, Post drove to the hoop looking for an and-one call but didn’t get a whistle or layup with the chance.
Monterastelli praised the team’s effort despite the unfortunate loss to a rival team.
White highlighted the second-half adjustments that the Giants made coming out of the break.
“We were down about 11, came back, and made it a three-point game. We played hard the whole second-half and I’m still proud of what we were able to do,” White said.
Senior team manager Davi Leite emphasized certain areas the Giants had lacked in, ultimately putting the Giants behind.
“Late-game turnovers and missed [three-point shots] set us behind tonight. We need to execute when the game’s on the line, and it will show in the results,” Leite said.
With the hard-fought loss, Redwood looks to bounce back in a home game on Friday, Jan. 23, against Marin Catholic, focusing on sharper execution, better shooting and keeping the same defensive intensity they had against the Bulls.
