SAN JOSE – Branham had a nine-point lead midway through the second quarter and it looked as though the Bruins were well on their way to winning their 16th in a row, opening a two-game lead in the divisional standings and knocking off Santa Teresa for the second time this season.
But the Saints cut the deficit to three by halftime and came out blazing to start the third quarter, making their first seven shots and going 9-of-12 in a 26-point quarter that completely turned the game around.
Up 11 to begin the fourth quarter, Santa Teresa held off a Branham rally, emerged with a 70-66 victory and moved into a tie for first place in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division standings. Branham and Santa Teresa are now both 8-1 with three games left.
“Unleash the dogs,” first-year Santa Teresa coach Patrick Judge said. “Now we’ve got to do our job if we’re going to win league.”
Branham is 19-2 on the season and lost for the first time to a team from Northern California. The team’s previous loss was by a 68-66 score in overtime to St. Francis of La Canada. Santa Teresa improved to 16-5.
Adam Nakai was the flamethrower in Santa Teresa’s third-quarter blitz. He scored 13 of his game-high 25 points in the quarter, making four shots from the floor, two of which were from behind the 3-point arc, and going 3-of-3 from the foul line. .
“Moving around, a lot of cutting and getting open and trusting each other,” Nakai said of what went into the third-quarter explosion.
Alex Peoples scored 16, making four 3-pointers, Casey Tran scored 13, knocking down three 3s and Kenny Zuniga added 10 points
“Those guys are very talented on offense,” Branham coach Jason Billie said. “They hit us right in the mouth.”
Wyatt Sparling led Branham with 23 points, Dasan Poston had 18 and Nick Mego 11.
“We like to play fast with our skill set,” Billie said. “Santa Teresa also likes to play fast. It makes for a fun game to watch.”
Branham won the first meeting between the two 70-69 on Dec. 7.
The Saints really demonstrated their offensive capability in the game following the loss to Branham when they beat Evergreen Valley 104-86.
“I’m incredibly proud of my guys,” Judge said. “When we play together this is an unbelievable basketball team. Our seniors have put us on their shoulders. We say 120 all in, go 120% all the time. Our team GPA is 3.6. I’m having a blast.”
The winner of the Mt. Hamilton Division might be included in the Central Coast Section’s eight-team Open Division, which would be a tall order for either team.
“It would be a good experience to have if we can make it,” Nakai said.
Judge experienced what it was like to take a public school team into the Open Division in 2014 when he was the coach at Leigh.
“As a public school it’s awfully hard to find the size and depth you need,” Judge said. “I remember when we played Serra and their ninth guy off the bench had been a star in junior high. We’re looking forward to Division I. I believe we can play with everybody there.”
