The Bears secured a 56-42 win against the Half Moon Bay Cougars on Friday night, adding another win to their 6-0 league record.
After winning the tip-off, the Bears immediately sprung into action. Senior point guard Dominic Auer made a quick pass to senior shooting guard Trevor Cadigan, who banked a three-pointer just 15 seconds into the game.
Keeping the Cougars at a steady distance from the net, the Bears dominated on offense, with Dominic and junior point guard Jacob Sutton making multiple rebounds and jumpers, bringing the Bears to a steady 9-0 lead five minutes into the game.
Despite multiple attempts from the Cougars to penetrate the Bears’ defense, they remained unable to reach the net. A lack of movement on Half Moon Bay’s end allowed Sutton to steal the ball and bury another three-pointer for the Bears. With numerous layups and free throws from junior shooting guard Luca Auer and junior small forward Jerry Williams, the Bears increased their lead to 17-5 just as the quarter closed out.
The Bears began the second quarter with the same fierce energy, as junior power forward Aidan Atkins chalked up two jumpers with the help of Cadigan’s steals. The Cougars were desperate for a comeback, but every point for the Cougars was matched by three-pointers for the Bears.
Williams and Cadigan both added multiple long-range shots and free throws to the Bears’ lead, offering few empty possessions and forcing Half Moon Bay to grow more aggressive on offense. The Cougars snuck in a couple of shots with 40 seconds remaining in an attempt to close in on M-A’s 31-21 halftime lead.
Eager to extend their score, the Bears ramped up their offensive effort in the second half, landing two more three-pointers from Cadigan and a layup from Sutton. The Cougars eventually broke their dry spell after managing to steal the ball and score a couple of points to shorten the Bears’ advantage.
By the end of the quarter, however, the Bears distanced themselves only even further with a score of 42-29, draining all hope for the Cougars to catch up. A series of smooth passes between Luca and Sutton resulted in a quick three-pointer from Williams, in addition to another free throw from Sutton to top off the play.
Racking up on points in the last minute, Cadigan planted a layup with a quick assist from Williams who tipped the ball in. The Cougars’ attempts to score were matched by endless jumpers and free throws from Sutton and Luca, allowing the Bears to ease up on offense.
Letting the clock run for the last few seconds, the Bears finished the game with a 56-42 win, tacking on another victory for league play.
“I think our team played well right out of the gate,” Williams said. “The ball was moving, we were knocking down shots, and playing really good defense.”
“We picked up the energy on the court and on the bench and we ran through our plays correctly,” junior shooting guard Bryce Winters added.
The Bears will travel to Woodside to battle against the Wildcats on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
