Mustangs Rebound For Another Shot at CCS
Boys' basketball starts off the season strong hunting for the big trophy.
By Dominic Scheller
Boys' basketball starts off the season strong hunting for the big trophy.
By Dominic Scheller
The boys’ basketball team has had an electric beginning to the season. The team has shown much improvement since last season's underwhelming end as they fell short of making it to CCS.
The Mustangs won seven straight games at the beginning of the season, and came out swinging with their first win against Yerba Buena High School winning 88-37. The Mustangs are now 16-7 overall and 7-2 in league as of Feb. 8.
Guard and forward Sam Stepan, 10, feels that the team’s defense has been stronger this year. The team played full court defense and got four turnovers, giving the team major opportunities in a game against Fremont High School.
“We were down by eight with a minute left, we got them within two but unfortunately we missed the game winning shot but it was really good because the defense really gave us those opportunities,” said Stepan.
Forward Aaron Wolf-Bloom, 11, has a very forward outlook and does not dwell on prior seasons, including last year’s 10-14 overall record.
“I don't think we're looking to compare last year as opposed to this year. We're facing different competition and last year we did not make it to CCS, which makes that our prime goal going on this year,” said Wolf-Bloom.
Point guard Derek Quan, 9, feels everyone on the team has bonded very well and that has led them to helping each other get adjusted on the team.
“Being the youngest kid, it's a lot of pressure on me, but all the big seniors really help me and make me feel comfortable with the team,” said Quan.
The team has reaped the benefits of a wider skillset and more inclusive play on the hardwood, shown by 63-18 domination of the KIPP San Jose Collegiate team that was 11-1 in league competition.
“We have better shot selection this season and I think we get the ball around to different guys more instead of focusing on just one player, which I think is very helpful especially when you're guarding a team you don't really know how to guard,” said Stepan.
Coach Joe Berticevich has been a big impact to the success of the players with the strategies and ideals he teaches the team.
“Coach tells us we need to win games when we are not playing well, and even though we're playing a bad game it's something you need to overcome in the moment and really just doing all the little things so if something goes wrong we can still win games,” said forward Chad Spence, 12.
Guard Jonah Maloto, 12, feels that with every day at practice, the group takes another step forward.
“Every game we just climb the mountain even more, improving from each game and we've really come as a team and work together and really know each other's personnel and we really build off each other's energies,” said Maloto.
The Mustangs won seven straight games at the beginning of the season, and came out swinging with their first win against Yerba Buena High School winning 88-37. The Mustangs are now 16-7 overall and 7-2 in league as of Feb. 8.
Guard and forward Sam Stepan, 10, feels that the team’s defense has been stronger this year. The team played full court defense and got four turnovers, giving the team major opportunities in a game against Fremont High School.
“We were down by eight with a minute left, we got them within two but unfortunately we missed the game winning shot but it was really good because the defense really gave us those opportunities,” said Stepan.
Forward Aaron Wolf-Bloom, 11, has a very forward outlook and does not dwell on prior seasons, including last year’s 10-14 overall record.
“I don't think we're looking to compare last year as opposed to this year. We're facing different competition and last year we did not make it to CCS, which makes that our prime goal going on this year,” said Wolf-Bloom.
Point guard Derek Quan, 9, feels everyone on the team has bonded very well and that has led them to helping each other get adjusted on the team.
“Being the youngest kid, it's a lot of pressure on me, but all the big seniors really help me and make me feel comfortable with the team,” said Quan.
The team has reaped the benefits of a wider skillset and more inclusive play on the hardwood, shown by 63-18 domination of the KIPP San Jose Collegiate team that was 11-1 in league competition.
“We have better shot selection this season and I think we get the ball around to different guys more instead of focusing on just one player, which I think is very helpful especially when you're guarding a team you don't really know how to guard,” said Stepan.
Coach Joe Berticevich has been a big impact to the success of the players with the strategies and ideals he teaches the team.
“Coach tells us we need to win games when we are not playing well, and even though we're playing a bad game it's something you need to overcome in the moment and really just doing all the little things so if something goes wrong we can still win games,” said forward Chad Spence, 12.
Guard Jonah Maloto, 12, feels that with every day at practice, the group takes another step forward.
“Every game we just climb the mountain even more, improving from each game and we've really come as a team and work together and really know each other's personnel and we really build off each other's energies,” said Maloto.