On Friday, Feb. 21, boys’ varsity basketball secured a narrow win in the second round of the North Coast Section (NCS) playoffs. Before the game began, head coach Jay DeMaestri celebrated 100 career wins with the team. Despite being the underdogs as the seventh seed in the tournament, the Acalanes Dons put up a strong fight. They took an eight point lead into halftime, before Redwood’s high-powered offense surged in the second half to secure a 62-52 win, advancing the team further through NCS.
The Giants had a slow start to the game and from the jump, failed to see their shots through the basket. Key scorers attempted and failed to make shots beyond the arc, allowing Acalanes to pull ahead 9-0. This delayed beginning was also visible in Redwood’s first-round match against Montgomery, where Redwood scored just eight points in the first quarter. To end the first quarter on Friday, the Giants’ offense picked up, with seniors Tyler White and Zach Dinowitz both making threes, cutting the Acalanes’ lead to 18-16 at the end of the quarter.
However, this momentum did not continue in the second quarter, as the Redwood offense failed to get points on the board and began to fall behind the Dons. By the end of the first half, the Giants only scored four second-quarter points, falling behind the Acalanes 28-20.
Going into the second half, Redwood was determined to secure win number 101 for DeMaestri and punch their ticket to the NCS semifinals. Senior leading scorer Semetri “TT” Carr was the backbone of the team, making threes, knocking down free throws, constantly grabbing rebounds and passing to open teammates. Senior Noah Tanaka also played well on the court, making two crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Giants’ offense scored an impressive 27 points, putting them in position to overtake the Acalanes’ lead. Carr made multiple free throws, giving Redwood the final points they needed to secure their win. His 41-point performance is his highest this season, in the biggest game yet. Eventually, Redwood was able to make a successful comeback, ending the final quarter 10 points ahead of Acalanes. This win brings the Giants to a ten-game streak of wins at home and bumps their record to 21-6. In the semifinals, Redwood will face off against Amador Valley, the sixth seed in the tournament, on Feb. 25 at home at 7 p.m.
Home-court advantage continues to be a key part of the boys’ varsity basketball postseason run. After winning nine straight home games, including the MCAL (Marin County Athletic League) championship, Redwood is proving that it pays to play with a big “R” in the center of the court. Before tip-off, the Giants celebrated 100 career wins for head coach Jay DeMaestri, setting the stage for another dominant performance in the NCS (North Coast Section) championship against the seventh-seeded Acalanes Dons.
