The boys basketball team overtook the Carlmont Scots 59-48 in their senior night game on Friday evening.
Before the game, the team honored its 10 seniors, who walked through a tunnel of cheerleaders while surrounded by friends and family.
“[Senior Night] was very emotional but it was also good at the same time. Probably one of the last times I was gonna hoop with my boys, so I want to say that it was a nice night to remember,” senior small forward Mello Knight said.
“The senior class is great. I think they’ve been inspiring the junior class well, leading the team well,” junior shooting guard Leighton Carpenter said.
The Bears gained possession off the tip-off, but failed to convert any immediate offensive attempts. The Scots struggled similarly and called a timeout just one minute into the game.
After a quick breather, M-A began to showcase their usual offensive dominance. A smooth no-look pass by senior power forward Jerry Williams allowed senior center Aiden Atkins to finish a layup, giving the Bears their first points on the board. Senior shooting guard Luca Auer added to this offensive showcase, scoring off a highly contested layup. Unfortunately, the Scots were able to catch up, and the score remained tied 4-4 with five minutes left in the quarter.
M-A continued to gain more energy after various fouls by Carlmont gave them multiple free throws, allowing them to extend their lead. The Bears’ defense was also on point, with Atkins executing a commanding block with one minute remaining in the quarter. Finally, failed shot attempts by Carlmont closed out the quarter with M-A ahead 7-6.
The second quarter began with a series of clean passes by Williams and senior point guard Jacob Sutton to Auer, who managed to finish a precise diving layup. However, the Bears’ attempts to build off this momentum faltered, with back-to-back missed shots. The Scots were then able to make a push offensively, gaining a narrow 14-13 lead with two minutes left in the half.
Still, M-A refused to give up. Williams pulled off a smooth floater and followed it with a free throw, and Sutton drained a tough jumper off an assist by Williams. Auer then weaved his way through the Scots’ defense and garnered an and-one with less than a second left on the clock, sinking the free throw and giving the Bears an advantage of 21-15 to end the half.
The third quarter started with a bang, as a dunk from Williams just 15 seconds in sent the stands into a frenzy. Both teams exchanged quick turnovers, and a masterful steal by Auer led to an easy layup to further the Bears’ lead, 25-15. Continuing their offensive dominance, Williams drew a foul and converted on a free throw, and Auer finished yet another layup to encourage a Carlmont timeout with just under six minutes left.
Coming out of the break, the Scots were able to knock down a three. However, Sutton responded immediately with a tough inside hand layup and a powerful drive for an and-one to extend M-A’s advantage to 32-20.
With all of the momentum shifted to the Bears, a crafty eurostep reverse finish by Auer forced Carlmont to take yet another timeout with 3:45 remaining in the quarter. The Scots came out hot, scoring a highly contested layup, but M-A didn’t let this get to them. A dump-off pass by junior small forward Beau Courson gave Atkins an electric dunk, getting the packed crowd on their feet.
Williams continued this run, getting a steal on the next play and throwing down yet another dunk in transition to keep the Bears ahead, 38-24, with 3:06 left. Auer secured a rebound, allowing him to drive all the way for a layup, and Williams drew a foul and knocked down both free throws, ending the quarter with a promising lead for M-A, 44-28.
However, Carlmont was not ready to give up, hitting a three immediately to begin the fourth quarter. The Bears turned up the defensive intensity, as Sutton strategically picked away the Scots’ dribble for an easy layup. Following this up, an offensive rebound by Williams led to a skillful pump fake eurostep finish by Auer.
M-A continued to bring the heat offensively, with a contested turnaround floater by Sutton to settle the score at 50-36. Carlmont was able to sink a few shots, but the Bears didn’t let that get to them. Suffocating ball pressure further halted the Scots from scoring, as Williams secured a steal and drew a foul on the layup. Atkins wasn’t far behind as a fast break dunk further added onto M-A’s impressive lead.
“When we got the crowd going with a couple of dunks in the second half, I loved the energy. I loved hearing just the crowd go crazy. It’s always fun playing in an environment like that,” Sutton said.
Still, the Scots persevered, hitting a three, but Sutton answered immediately with a layup. Williams snatched another rebound and delivered a perfect pass ahead to Atkins for a final dunk to give the Bears a concrete advantage, 59-46, with less than a minute remaining. Carlmont was able to convert on their free throws, but solid defense by Knight ended the game victorious for the Bears, 59-48, as M-A stays a perfect 9-0 in league play.
The Bears will face off against the Sacred Heart Gators in a non-league matchup at home on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
