Boys’ varsity basketball defeated Woodside High School 52-44 in a pivotal game to increase their playoff hopes on Friday, Jan. 17.
The Panthers jumped on the Wildcats early in the first quarter, establishing a double-digit lead. The Wildcats fought back and kept the game within single digits, even cutting the lead to just two points with only a few minutes left in the fourth quarter.
However, Burlingame finished the game with strong defensive stops and big shots, including a momentum-swinging 3-pointer from senior shooting guard Marcus Tapia to preserve the lead and secure the win.
Throughout the game, other key players like freshman Lucca Maher and junior Jean-Luc Uharriet were efficient in driving at the rim and capitalizing at the free-throw line.
“Finishing the game could definitely be tough when we’re up, but as long as we stay together, and it all starts on the defensive end, and when a bench brings energy, it just really helps,” Maher said.
According to Tapia, the victory against the Wildcats was a team effort. Players up and down the roster played big roles in the win, contributing to aggressive rebounding, drawing fouls, finishing in the paint, and moving the ball.
“Maher, he’s just a freshman, and he’s only getting better from here. He had such a great game to start us off. [Sophomore David Parrot] had a great game, driving to the basket, finding his teammates, guarding the best player, and [Uharriet] had some great dishes, got to the free throw line, and everyone else contributed,” Tapia said.
With the victory, the Panthers improved to 7-10 overall and 2-3 in Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division play. While the record isn’t where the squad hoped it would be thus far, they continue to believe in their ability to compete with any team.
“We don’t have a good record, but the record doesn’t mean anything. We’re still a great team at the end of the day, and I know we can beat any team that we play against,” Tapia said.
Maher’s all-around play has been a major bright spot for this team this season. He plays major minutes in head coach David Lopez’s rotation, including 31 minutes of game action on Friday against Woodside.
“I think I’ve been playing pretty well, adapting to the game and just learning what it’s all about,” Maher said.
Maher made his presence known on both ends of the floor, finishing with 21 points and 7 rebounds. He attacked the paint frequently, drawing multiple fouls and scoring with contact against Woodside’s defense.
“I pump-faked on their best player, and I hit an and-one, and the whole student section and the bench was getting hyped,” Maher said.
Another key factor of Burlingame’s success this season is Tapia’s scoring and leadership. He was efficient versus the Wildcats, shooting 50% from the field on 8 shots.
“I can definitely improve in everything. I had a lot better game today, and I just need to keep going,” Tapia said.
The Panthers now look ahead to their matchup on Wednesday, Jan. 22 against Hillsdale High School with a chance to improve their playoff positioning by getting to 3-3 in league play.
“We have to make [The Central Coast Section playoffs], and in order to do that, we got to go 6-6 in league,” Tapia said.
