Photo Credit: Dave Stoft

Senior Webb Henninger breaks through Carlmont's defense to take a chance at the basket

Wednesday’s tilt against Carlmont was a must-win for the Bears’ varsity boys’ basketball team, who entered the match one game behind league leaders Half Moon Bay and Aragon earlier in the PAL season. M-A entered the game expecting a defensive battle, as the Scots allowed just 40 points per game entering the match.

After senior Ian Proulx swished a jump-shot just 13 seconds into the game off of a defensive breakdown, both teams locked up defensively and Carlmont did not find the bottom of the net until 3:41 remained in the quarter. Most of the way through the first quarter, the scoreboard read 8-5 in favor of the Scots, with the majority of the points earned at the free throw line. Both teams generated several quality scoring chances but continued to misfire. In the closing seconds of the quarter, the Bears had a golden opportunity when sophomore Royce Branning fired a pass ahead to senior Ian Proulx, who unfortunately lost the ball a few feet from the net. The quarter ended with Carlmont leading 8-5.

Both teams continued the scrappy play in the second quarter, with Carlmont coming out aggressively and jumping out to a 12-6 lead halfway through the quarter. Senior Miles Weiss stopped the Scots’ run with a 3-point shot with 3:23 remaining. Strong defensive play forced a number of turnovers, and breakaways off of steals accounted for the bulk of the few points scored in the second. Near the end of the quarter, M-A cut the lead to 14-13 on a successful shot by Webb Henninger, which was the halftime score.

Just 44 seconds out of the break, sophomore Ryan Roberts drew a foul and sunk both free throws, and it appeared that the Bears had finally begun to secure the game. However, this was not the case, as the teams had limited success shooting from the field. But the foul-line remained somewhat kind to both teams, and M-A took a 20-16 lead late in the third quarter. Carlmont struck back after scoring and intercepting the following in-bounds pass, riding this surge to a 23-20 lead to end the quarter.

Just like the prior two league contests, the game came down to the fourth quarter. Senior Max Culhane fired the Bears up in the huddle, and the intensity picked up. While the offense did not flow until late in the game, the defense stepped up its intensity, allowing just two points in the closing quarter. With two minutes remaining in the game, Proulx beat one defender on the wing and, in a running layup, gave M-A a 26-25 lead. With 55 seconds remaining, Proulx drove into the teeth of the defense again and took a foul, swishing his free throws and giving the Bears a three point lead. After missing a three at the other end, the Scots fouled Weiss, who, again, knocked down both free throw shots for a 30-25 lead. After another Carlmont miss, Proulx iced the game with another pair of free throws. Carlmont’s last-ditch effort fell short, and the Bears prevailed 32-25.

The win moves the Bears to 2-1 in the PAL and 9-7 overall. Friday marks another pivotal match, as M-A battles the Aragon Dons, who defeated Half Moon Bay in overtime on Wednesday to seize take first place in the league. The Bears could move into a tie for first place with a win.