RICHMOND — For the final 10 years, Salesian has dominated its league.
The Pleasure normally breeze previous their Tri-County Athletic League Rock Division opponents, boasting a 79-2 league file because the 2015-16 season.
However on Tuesday, Salesian was in a canine battle with a brand new look St. Mary’s-Berkeley in entrance of a packed fitness center at dwelling. In the long run, Salesian’s protection stepped up massive within the second half to seal a 64-50 victory and seize its sixteenth win within the annual Rock recreation.
“We knew going in this was going to be a tough game,” Salesian coach Invoice Mellis mentioned. “St. Mary’s is vastly improved and they’re playing great. We needed to play well to win that game.”
Salesian guard Elias Obenyah (2) is fouled by Saint Mary’s guard Ahmad Gabriel (4) in the course of the fourth quarter of a boys’ highschool basketball recreation, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Richmond, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Space Information Group)
Junior guard Isaiah Davis added, “Getting a game like this will help us in the playoffs for sure. Sometimes our league hasn’t been that good, but St. Mary’s made us better.”
Junior guard Elias Obenyah led Salesian with 15 factors, 4 rebounds, two assists and three steals. Leon Powe added 11 and 7 rebounds and Alvin Loving and Carlton Perrilliat every added 9 factors. Davis did all of the little issues for Salesian within the second half totaling 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.
Regardless of the loss, first-year St. Mary’s coach Marshall Collins mentioned he was pleased with the way in which his group fought till the tip.
“My guys just played hard,” he mentioned. “Last year, they damn near lost by 50 points. … I’m proud of them. My team is young. I got six sophomores that play big minutes.
“I want NorCal to know we’re here. We’re the little step child in the corner that nobody knows about. We’re coming.”
Saint Mary’s head coach Marshall Collins calls out directions to his gamers in the course of the second quarter of a boys’ highschool basketball recreation towards Salesian, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Richmond, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Space Information Group)
The 2 groups performed about even within the first half.
Within the second quarter, Salesian regarded prefer it was going to make a giant run because the Pleasure opened the interval on a 9-2 run capped off by a Obenyah steal-and-score. However after a timeout, St. Mary’s went on a 9-0 run of their very own, fueled by a tenacious full-court press, to tie the sport at 26.
At halftime, Salesian led 32-30.
After a fiery halftime speech by Mellis, Salesian regarded extra centered on the defensive finish. The Pleasure held the Panthers to simply 9 factors within the third quarter. Turning up the warmth on protection led to simple buckets on offense for Salesian.
A transition 3-pointer by Powe elevated Salesian’s result in 10 with slightly below three minutes left within the third. Powe then ended the quarter scoring off a Salesian steal, giving the Pleasure a 13-point lead going into the fourth.
Salesian guard Elias Obenyah (2) drives previous Saint Mary’s guard Malakai Kelley (25) in the course of the third quarter of a boys’ highschool basketball recreation, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Richmond, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Space Information Group)
Salesian totaled 15 steals as a group.
St. Mary’s minimize the result in 12 factors within the last interval, however Salesian’s protection proved an excessive amount of because the Pleasure cruised to a double-digit victory.
“I think competing with a team like that builds our confidence,” St. Mary’s senior level guard Jaden Jones mentioned. “We’re going to play them later in the season and we’re going to know that we can compete with them.”
Jones totaled 10 factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Sophomore ahead Donovan Mikel had a game-high 15 factors to go together with seven rebounds. Junior CJ Baltrip chipped in eight factors.
Saint Mary’s guard Jaden Jones (3) drives to the basket between a trio of Salesian Pleasure defenders in the course of the first quarter of a boys’ highschool basketball recreation, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Richmond, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Space Information Group) Boys basketballNo. 6 Moreau Catholic 82, Mission San Jose 40
Kellen Hampton exploded for 30 factors because the Mariners dominated Mission San Jose at dwelling.
Dominic Walker added 14 factors and Isaiah Clendinen had 9 for Moreau (10-2, 3-0).
Darsh Jayaram had 14 factors to steer Mission San Jose, which dropped to 9-6, 2-1.
No. 14 California 71, Alhambra 47
Brayde Kuykendall scored a team-high 13 factors and Emeka Ifediora and Sib Sankar every had 13 to steer California to a blowout street win over Alhambra.
Torrance Avery, Jaimison Krause and Vincente Taylor every had 10 factors for Alhambra, which dropped to 7-5.
California completed its non-league portion of its schedule with a 15-2 file and can journey to Amador Valley on Friday to kick off East Bay Athletic League play.
No. 18 Liberty 65, Freedom 50
Liberty picked up its third league win of the 12 months behind 19 factors from sophomore standout Jaiden Miller.
Junior guard Dante Vigil added 16 factors and Mekhi Reed had 12 factors for Liberty. Arek Andrada led Freedom with 12 factors.
Liberty (13-2, 3-0) is scheduled to play Weston Ranch on Thursday. Freedom, which dropped to 3-12, 0-3, hosts Pittsburg on Friday.
Head-Royce 84, Athenian 60
In a matchup of final season’s North Coast Part Division Division V title recreation, Head-Royce got here out on high once more.
Head-Royce senior guard Micah Nyamuzuwe had 22 factors and 5 rebounds. Nick Taubes added 18 factors on 8 of 11 capturing and Mikael Akpala chipped in 12 factors.
The Jayhawks gained their first league recreation of the season and improved to 7-7 with a matchup towards School Prep approaching Thursday. Athenian dropped to 6-5 and can journey to St. Joseph Notre Dame on Thursday.
Boys buzzer beaters
Senior guard Kays Ziada totaled 23 factors to steer James Logan (3-11, 0-2) to a 63-56 upset win over American (6-8, 0-2) in additional time. … Foothill narrowly edged out Heritage at dwelling 70-69. Senior Vedant Mehta led Foothill with 20 factors. Jace Bernard and Brady Lockrem every had 18 factors for Heritage. … Monte Vista remained undefeated at dwelling, defeating Berkeley 65-50. Collin Ellis had 20 factors and Max Nishikawa and Ian Desai every had 12 factors.
Ladies basketballNo. 4 San Ramon Valley 79, Alameda 47
Ella Gunderson had 23 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in SRV’s blowout win over Alameda on the street.
Junior Alyssa Rudd added 21 factors, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Kaitlyn Mills had 12 factors and 7 assists and Hania Bowes chipped in 11 factors.
SRV (11-2) is slated to journey to Dougherty Valley on Friday for its first league recreation.
Mia Borja had a team-high 11 factors for Alameda, which dropped to 8-5.
No. 7 Piedmont 60, No. 17 California 55
Piedmont picked up one other signature win, defeating California for the second time this season at dwelling.
Freshman Andrea Martin had a game-high 22 factors and grabbed six rebounds for Piedmont. Freshman Jenelle Solis totaled 18 factors, eight assists and three steals. Senior Briana Webb did all of it as she scored 14 factors, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out three assists and totaled two steals.
California guard Lauren Yee had a terrific capturing night time regardless of the loss as she had 21 factors and made 5 3-pointers.
Piedmont improved to 11-1 and can begin league play towards San Leandro on Thursday. California dropped to 7-6 and kicks off league play towards Amador Valley on Friday.
Freedom 50, Liberty 45
Freedom picked up its third league win of the season, defeating Liberty at dwelling by 5.
Eve Monzon had a team-high 14 factors for Freedom. Liberty guard Shyanne Smith had a game-high 16 factors.
Freedom improved to 12-5, 3-0 and is slated to play at Pittsburg on Friday. Liberty dropped to 6-8, 1-2 and travels to Piedmont on Saturday.
Washington-Fremont 46, Kennedy-Fremont 22
The Huskies didn’t permit greater than six factors in 1 / 4 as they defeated league foe Kennedy by 24.
Washington’s Mikaela Dumagan led all scorers with 17 factors. Chloe Buchner had eight factors for Kennedy.
Kennedy is now 5-4, 1-2 and can play at Newark Memorial on Thursday. Washington will take a 10-3, 2-1 file into its recreation towards Moreau on Thursday.
San Leandro 40, Hayward 29
Senior Ravyn Martin had 18 factors in San Leandro’s 40-29 win over Hayward.
Elianna Sega scored 11 factors for Hayward, which dropped to 2-11. San Leandro improved to 8-3.
