The Branham High School boys basketball team started its Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division season with a pair of road victories last week.
On Jan. 3, the Bruins jumped out to a 23-7 first-quarter advantage and led 33-12 at halftime in a 61-37 victory over Gunderson.
Branham’s game on Jan. 5 was much closer. It trailed Silver Creek 20-11 in the first quarter and 25-20 at halftime. But with an 18-15 fourth-quarter scoring advantage, the Bruins edged the Raiders 55-53. Branham entered this week with a 5-6 overall record.
The Pioneer High School boys basketball team opened its BVAL-Santa Teresa Division schedule with a 62-56 victory at Prospect on Jan. 3. But the Mustangs fell 58-48 at Independence on Jan. 5. The 76ers used a 15-8 scoring advantage in the third quarter to take a 40-26 lead, then held on for the win as Prospect outscored Independence 22-18 in the fourth quarter. Pioneer entered this week with a 7-5 overall record.
“We played two away games. I’ll take 1-1 and move forward,” Pioneer coach Joe Berticevich said.
In the victory over Prospect, Gabe Lucero scored 23 points and Michael Smith added 17 for Pioneer. Against Independence, Smith tallied 25 points and Lucero added 12.
Lucero, a 6-foot-2 junior, and Smith are the two returning starters for Pioneer.
Leland went 1-1 in the first week of the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton Division season last week.
The Chargers opened its league season with an impressive 70-49 victory over Westmont. Leland took a 23-14 first-quarter lead and used a 20-9 third-quarter scoring advantage to lead 56-37. The Chargers shot 56-percent from the field, including 48-percent from three-point range.
Leland’s Fuad Alemu and Sohan Kshirsagar both scored a game-high 16 points, Shane McKnight added 15 points for Leland, and teammate Joseph Chen had 10 points. Kshirsagar was 6 for 8 from the field and Alemu was 6 for 9. Alemu was also 4 for 5 from three-point range.
McKnight had a great all-around game, as he also had five rebounds, four assists and three steals.Michael Esmali also grabbed five rebounds for Leland, and Kshirsagar passed for a team-high six assists. Alemu had a team-high four steals for Leland.
But the Chargers were edged by host Santa Teresa 53-49 on Jan. 5. The Saints outscored Leland 16-12 in the fourth quarter after the third period ended in a 37-37 tie.
Kshirsagar and Chen both led Leland in scoring with 15 points, and McKnight added 10 points. Chen was 6 for 10 from the field, including 3 for 6 from beyond the three-point arc.
McKnight produced a double-double with a team-high 10 rebounds, and he also had a team-high three steals. Both Kshirsagar and Alemu passed for a team-high four assists. Leland entered this week with a 7-5 overall record.
Leigh was edged 65-64 in overtime by visiting Willow Glen on Jan. 3. The Rams’ Max Moody hit both a three-pointer to send the game into overtime, and the game-winning basket with .7 left in the first overtime.
Then Piedmont Hills defeated Leigh 74-51 on Jan. 5. Leigh fell to 2-10 overall with the loss.
Girls Basketball
Leigh split its nonleague games last week. After falling 71-24 to Valley Christian-San Jose on Jan. 4, the Longhorns used a 19-12 fourth-quarter run to beat Homestead 49-43. Leigh had a 5-6 overall record entering this week.
Pioneer opened its BVAL-Santa Teresa Division season last week with a 33-28 loss to visiting Westmont. The Warriors outscored the Mustangs 11-6 in the final quarter for the win. Pioneer entered this week with a 3-8 overall record.
Leland fell 54-49 to Burlingame and 45-42 to Half Moon Bay in a pair of nonleague games last week. The Chargers were outscored by Burlingame 31-22 in the second half on Jan. 3. Leland outscored Half Moon Bay 29-26 in the second half on Jan. 6, but were unable to totally come back from a six-point halftime deficit. The Chargers entered this week with a 7-7 overall record.
Branham fell 42-38 to Silver Creek last week. in its last nonleague game before in its BVAL Santa Teresa Division opener on Jan. 11 at Lincoln. The result of the game was not available at press time.
Boys Soccer
Leland started its BVAL Santa Teresa Division season by splitting its games last week. After being edged 2-1 by Mt. Pleasant on Jan. 2, the Chargers beat Del Mar 4-2 on Jan. 4. Leland was 5-3 overall entering this week.
Branham also opened its BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division season with a split of games last week. It used a second-half goal by Dante Reinoso off an assist from Lucas Cuellar to beat Pioneer 1-0 on Jan. 2. The Bruins were then edged by Overfelt 4-3 on Jan. 4. Branham entered this week with a 4-3 overall record.
Leigh was 1-1 in its first BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division action of the season last week. With a pair of second-half goals, the Longhorns beat Lincoln 3-1 on Jan. 2. But Prospect scored three first-half goals in a 4-0 victory over Leigh on Jan. 4.
After Pioneer’s loss to Branham, it beat Evergreen Valley 201 on Jan. 4 with a pair of second-half goals.
Girls Soccer
Pioneer improved to 7-0-1 overall and 2-0 in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division with a pair of wins last week. The Mustangs shut out Branham 3-0 on Jan. 3 and edged Willow Glen 2-1 on Jan. 5.
Leigh tied Sobrato 1-1 on Jan. 3, then scored three second-half goals to beat Santa Teresa 3-0 on Jan. 5, as the Longhorns began BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division play with a 1-0-1 record last week. The Longhorns entered this week with a 3-1-2 overall mark.
Leland tied Santa Teresa 0-0 on Jan. 3, then fell to Sobrato 1-0 on Jan. 5 for a 0-1-1 start in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division last week. The Chargers had a 1-3-2 overall mark entering this week.
Branham goalkeeper Lily Muddari-Spencer had 10 saves in the Bruins’ loss to Pioneer, then Branham fell 6-0 to Piedmont Hills on Jan. 5. The Bruins entered this week with a 3-6 overall mark and 0-2 mark in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division.
