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Both the Menlo-Atherton High and Menlo School boys basketball teams traveled to Salinas on Saturday for their respective Central Coast Section Division championship games.
And both teams returned home with the championship team trophy.
M-A won the Division I title, beating Alvarez 70-64 in a game that featured nine lead changes and was tied on seven other occasions.
Menlo won the Division IV title, beating Palma 63-58 as the Knights scored the game’s final 10 points.
Both teams advance into the NorCal tournament, which begins Tuesday at various school sites. The seeding meeting is Sunday.
Johno Price hit consecutive baskets to put M-A (20-6) ahead to stay at 61-59 with 4:28 left to play. Ryan Anderson hit a 3-pointer with 2:24 remaining to make it a two-possession game at 64-60.
Price, who finished with 10 points, was one of five Bears to score in double figures. Jalen Williams led the team with 20 points, Anderson added 15, Connor Cadigan scored 11 and Doug Adams had 10.
Alvarez was up 28-19 in the second quarter before M-A went on a 17-8 run to tie the game at 36 going into halftime.
Menlo School won its first CCS title since 2017 under first year coach Ben Batory.
The Knights carried a 45-40 lead into the fourth quarter. Palma eventually took a 58-53 edge going into the final 90 seconds of play.
Daniel Solomon made a 3-pointer, with an assist from Will Eggemeier, to spark the final rally.
Menlo sophomore Sam Reznik, on Solomon’s assist, banked a 3-pointer for the go-ahead score.
Lucas Vogel, who may be the most consistent foul shooter in the section, hit a pair of free throws and Solomon scored again to finish the game.
“Will was able to find me on my three and I think that started some momentum,’ Solomon said. “Lucas came up big time in the second half. Then, I was coming down the court and I saw Sam. He has confidence, and I’ve built trust with him over the year. I told him to always look, always look and I’ll get it to you, and it was a bank (shot) but I think he stepped up with confidence, and that’s really a reason why we won the game.”
Menlo junior Lucas Vogel led the way with 17 points, four assists and six rebounds.
“We had to fight for every single bucket, every single play and everyone stepped up,” Vogel said. “It was huge. We were down, and we just clawed back at the end.”
Solomon recorded 14 points and five assists while Reznik added 11 points, four rebounds and three steals. Junior Brooks Mead added five assists and eight points.
“It was a great team, collaborative effort to win that.” Solomon said. “It was a great feeling to close CCS with a medal.”
Pam McKenney/Menlo Athletics contributed to this report.
By Rick Eymer
Pam McKenney/Menlo Athletics contributed to this report.
By Rick Eymer
Pam McKenney/Menlo Athletics contributed to this report.
By Rick Eymer
Pam McKenney/Menlo Athletics contributed to this report.
By Rick Eymer