On Friday, Jan. 23, the boys varsity basketball team defeated its league rival, the Marin Catholic (MC) Wildcats, in a triumphant 58-51 victory. Following a tough loss on the road earlier in the week to the Branson Bulls, the Giants were poised to turn the tables on their home court.
In front of a packed and roaring crowd, the Giants set the tone early. Senior captains Jake Post and Leo Centeno opened the game with two-point layups, followed by a three-pointer from Post that gave the Giants early momentum. The Wildcats’ offense struggled to match Redwood’s pace in the first half, as the Giants led 33-23 heading into halftime.
The Wildcats fought back in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit and eventually pulling ahead by two points in the 3rd quarter. Redwood coach Jay DeMaestri discussed the Giants’ readjustments after halftime.
“MC came out and punched us right in the mouth. We wanted to control the pace of the game, and in the first five minutes, we were not. Then we got it back and started chipping away. We got a couple of big layups from Jake Post and [senior] Richard [Byrne], who hit a big three,” DeMaestri said.
Junior Olen Johnson led the Giants in scoring with 15 points while shooting 88% from the field, a decisive factor in the Redwood victory. Post added 14 points on the night, while Byrne scored 10. Senior captain Charlie Poser contributed two points, but his voice and impact were felt across the court, serving as a team anchor.
“[Poser] was out there running the offense,” DeMaestri said.
Poser emphasized the team’s unity as a key factor in the win.
Coach DeMaestri also attributed the victory to the team chemistry, describing how the team has grown over the course of the season.
“There are a lot of different personalities. We’ve got quiet guys. We’ve got very outgoing guys. We’ve got guys who like getting as many shots up as possible. They’re all figuring out how to make each piece fit. And obviously, a win like this tonight helps with team chemistry and trust in each other,” DeMaestri said.
Now leading in the standings for the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) with a 4-1 record, the Giants hope to carry the momentum forward as they near the playoffs. Junior Max Monterastelli provided insight on what this win means for the team moving forward.
“This is huge momentum. We thank the crowd for showing up. That was a huge factor, and we’re going to need that crowd to show up again [next] Friday against Archie [Williams],” Monterastelli said.
The win over Marin Catholic improves the Giants’ record to 8-11 overall, with their sights set on their next matchup on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at home against San Marin at 7:30.
