Braves Energy and Teamwork give fans much to cheer about

Friday night, Dec. 19, at San Carlos High School was a showcase of everything Braves basketball is about — energy, teamwork, and an exciting brand of play that keeps fans on their feet. Hosting the Cardinals from St. Michael High School, both the Lady Braves and the Braves boys varsity teams put together dominant performances, giving the home crowd plenty to cheer about.

The Lady Braves set the tone early, coming out with a tight man-to-man defense that immediately disrupted St. Michael’s offense. Senior Caylee Longstreet was on fire from the opening tip, scoring eight points in the first quarter, including a pair of three-pointers that helped spark the run. A relentless full-court press and unselfish ball movement allowed San Carlos to jump out to a commanding 23-3 lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, head coach Alvin Antonio took the opportunity to build for the future, bringing in three freshmen to gain valuable varsity experience. The starters rested the entire quarter while multiple players logged meaningful minutes. Even with the rotation, the Lady Braves remained in control, leading 30-15 at halftime.

San Carlos returned its starting five to the floor to open the third quarter and quickly put the game out of reach. The Lady Braves continued to push the pace and share the basketball, stretching the lead to 56-22 after three quarters before closing out a convincing 70-27 victory.

Longstreet led the way with 20 points, knocking down an impressive six three-pointers. Alyson Hopkins added 13 points, while Anaya Juan chipped in 10. Balanced scoring rounded out the night, with contributions from Seanice Patter, Malia Antonio, Kayetin Kenton, Kylee Juan, and Drianna Dosela. The Lady Braves improved to 8-3 on the season and will next host Gilbert Classical on Thursday, Jan. 15.

The boys' varsity team followed with a performance just as entertaining. St. Michael opened the game with a press designed to match San Carlos’ pressure, but the Braves' offense proved too much to handle. Crisp passing and smart decision-making helped the Braves build a 17-7 lead after one quarter.

That unselfish play continued throughout the night, a trait shared by both San Carlos programs. Junior guard Leandro Simbolo repeatedly attacked the basket, converting three old-fashioned three-point plays to keep the momentum rolling. The Braves took a 38-14 advantage into halftime.

A highlight moment came in the third quarter when Junior Talen Pechuli drilled a three-pointer for his 500th career point. San Carlos led 57-26 after three and cruised to a 69-35 win.

Simbolo led the Braves with 21 points, followed by Pechuli with 11, Leshawn Browning and Herschel Thompson Jr. with 10 each, Cameron Stevens with 6, and Brian Valentino with 3. The junior varsity boys also earned a 56-30 win, completing the night's sweep.

Now 10-2 on the season, the Braves will host Arete Prep on Friday, Jan. 9. If you’ve never experienced the excitement of a home basketball game in San Carlos, this is the perfect time — everyone is welcome.