The boys basketball team topped the Burlingame Panthers 64-52 on Tuesday night.
The Bears won the opening tip and began the game with high energy, as senior power forward Jerry Williams put the first points on the board with a dunk. Soon after, senior point guard Jacob Sutton swished a midrange shot to continue the Bears’ hot start, bringing the score to 6-0.
“I was getting to my spots, making shots and helping the team,” Sutton said.
With four minutes left on the clock, the Panthers ended their scoring drought with a three-pointer to push the score to 8-3. Both teams went back and forth, making shots, until the score was 14-10. Despite this, M-A quickly bounced back with a steal from junior guard Leighton Carpenter, and a nifty pass to Sutton brought the Bears’ lead up to six. With 45 seconds left in the first quarter, Burlingame managed to quickly respond, ending the quarter with M-A up 16-14.
As the second quarter began, the Panthers got a layup, but then the Bears maintained their defensive intensity by forcing a five-second penalty. The game remained close as each team responded basket after basket. Another great steal and pass from Carpenter, followed by a slam from senior power forward Aiden Atkins, left M-A ahead 22-19.
The Panthers persisted and stayed in the game, obtaining a 2-point lead with minutes left in the half. As the clock ticked, clutch free throws from senior shooting guard Luca Auer put the Bears up 28-26 to finish the first half.
Coming out of the break, the Bears started a powerful run, and a clever jelly layup by Williams brought the M-A bench to their feet. With three minutes to go, senior center Will Abdella grabbed a tough rebound and, on the putback, made it to the line for some easy free throws.
Williams continued his offensive masterclass, taking an unstoppable drive to the basket with a minute left to bring the score to 48-35. Lockdown defense by the Bears kept the score untouched heading into the fourth quarter.
Both teams began the last quarter with an aggressive mentality, exchanging reach-in fouls. M-A continued to be dominant offensively, quickly going on a nine-point scoring run with less than five minutes left in the game, the score 57-40.
After trading fouls with Burlingame with two minutes left in the game, M-A made a basket to put the score at 59-46. The clock continued to wind down, and Williams iced the game with a fantastic layup to bring the score to 61-46. A futile run from the Panthers secured a Bears win, 64-52.
“We played together. I think we were all trying our hardest,” Abdella said.
“Every win is earned. It’s just on to the next one. Gonna enjoy this one tonight and then on to the next one,” Sutton said.
The Bears will play at home against the Sequoia Ravens on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
