The boys basketball team lost a close game against the Menlo Knights 67-65 on Saturday evening.
After the Bears won the tip-off, junior Jacob Sutton quickly found himself at the free throw line. After making both baskets, M-A was the first on the scoreboard. But, Menlo had a response for every M-A point, and knocked down the first three-pointer of the game.
Sutton was able to find an open shot, but the Knights’ defense was tough, forcing multiple turnovers and mistakes on the Bears’ offense.
However, the Bears’ aggressive defense mirrored Menlo’s. After a Menlo turnover, senior Dominic Auer found junior Jerry Williams for a three-pointer to capitalize on the Knights’ mistake. By the end of the first quarter, M-A led 14-11.
Beginning the second quarter, senior Trevor Cadigan scored two mid-range shots on back-to-back possessions, awakening the Bears’ offense, but also sounding an alarm to Menlo’s offense.
Menlo started to find openings in the Bears’ defense, and kept getting bucket after bucket. M-A called their first timeout as Menlo took the lead 22-20.
Right out of the break, Cadigan hit a three-pointer. Following Cadigan’s shot, the Knights got another of their own, keeping the game neck and neck. This back-and-forth continued until the half, where M-A barely managed to scrape a three-point lead of 35-32.
Immediately as the third quarter started, Menlo didn’t miss a shot, nailing three three-pointers in a row. Menlo’s huge shift of momentum forced M-A to call their first timeout of the quarter.
M-A struggled at the free throw line throughout the game, and Menlo continued to make shots from everywhere on the court.
Heading into the fourth quarter, Menlo led 50-45, and the Bears were anxious for a comeback.
Senior Bobby Redmond attacked the basket while Sutton hit a three-pointer. But, once again, Menlo responded with another three-pointer and hit a mid-range shot. With 3:57 left in the game, Menlo kept their 60-55 lead.
Williams made two layups, and Sutton’s assist to junior Aiden Atkins’ layup helped cut down Menlo’s lead.
The Bears started to get into foul trouble: Menlo got into bonus with 1:07 remaining, and M-A was still down by five points.
With three seconds left, Menlo intentionally fouled Sutton so M-A couldn’t tie the game. Sutton made his first free throw, and purposely missed the second. The Bears got the rebound, and threw up a desperate shot for the win, but it came up short. Menlo ultimately held onto the lead, winning 67-65.
“We had two chances to win the game, but shots didn’t fall,” Williams said. “We’re taking it as a learning lesson, which will lead to improvement.”
“The game didn’t go the way we wanted it to go, but we’ll be able to bounce back,” junior Joel Fifita said.
