Boys’ basketball crushed Albany 88-48 in their 1st round NCS playoff game at home on February 25.
Campolindo scored the 1st basket a minute into the 1st quarter, and kept their lead for the rest of the game.
The 1st half ended 39-28. The Cougars built a sizable lead by the end of the 3rd quarter, 64-37.
“I think the second half was probably our best,” senior Walter Brennan said. “We didn’t do so well in the first half, but we really got after it in the second half and played well.”
“We did a great job with the energy,” coach Matt Watson said. “I think they tired the other team out in the first half, and then ran them off in the second half.”
According to junior Chris Hansen, the team was confident going into the game. “We kind of knew we were going to win, I guess. That’s not a very good attitude to have, but we had it and it showed in the first half. We didn’t play very well, and we kind of picked it up in the second half,” he said.
Brennan agreed. “We didn’t know too much about Albany to begin with, but we knew we were the better seed and had a good chance of winning,” said Brennan. “They did have a good record, but their strength of schedule wasn’t as tough as ours, so we were expecting to win.”
Watson was pleased with how his team “ran the floor,” but wanted his team to work on rebounding, moving the ball, transitioning to offense faster, and winning loose balls. “We lose it almost every game, especially in the first half. The second half we won it tonight, but we lost in the first half,” he said.
“Everybody had a hand in that thing, so I think everybody did a great job,” said Watson. “I thought the starters did a nice job, especially in the 3rd quarter. I think they set the tone for the rest of the second half.”
This was also senior Justin Dunn’s 1st game back after fainting from a collapsed lung in class on February 20.
Campolindo improved to 21-6 overall. Their next game is against Miramonte on February 28. It is their 3rd time playing the Mats this season.
“It’s a rivalry game. It’s going to be a tough game,” Watson said. “Kids are pretty fired up to play them, though, so that’ll be good. It’ll be an exciting game.”
