On Friday, Jan. 11, the Archie Williams boys varsity basketball team met the Marin Catholic Wildcats on their home court for the first Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) game of the season. The gym was filled with support from Falcon and Wildcat students and parents. Archie Williams started out strong with a lead of several points for the first and second quarter, but lost control, and Marin Catholic took the win, with a final score of 45-56.
“We needed this loss; it’s gonna only fuel us more,” said Archie Williams senior shooting guard Jasper Cohen.
The Wildcats scored the first two points of the game with a field goal, ramping up the Falcons’ competitiveness and junior point guard Grady Stuart quickly followed with the first two points for the Falcons. Afterwards, the Falcons converted on several field goals, giving them a strong head start at 7-2. Junior guard Ephraim Sohn stunned the crowd with a three-pointer, giving the Falcons a score boost to 16-13.
With the competitive nature of the matchups came some aggression, prompting several fouls and granting the Wildcats two free throws. Archie Williams junior guard James Butler committed the first foul, giving the Wildcats a free throw attempt which evened the score out to 18-18 to end the first quarter.
The second quarter started with high energy both on the court and in the stands, with the crowds ramping up the spirit for the two teams. The Falcons regained control, dominating the court as they scored, and the Wildcats quickly caught up, tying the score to 26-26. At the last minute of the second quarter, James made a field goal, putting the Falcons in the lead by three points.
“Our team has one of the best chemistries in the league, and even in tough moments I think we can stay together,” said Archie Williams junior forward Brian Wright.
Halftime arrived with impressive performances from the Archie Williams Dance Troupe and the Wildcats cheerleaders. Archie Williams’ fall champion teams, girls and boys varsity cross country and boys varsity water polo, were also recognized on the court at halftime for their dedication and skill during the fall season, proudly showcasing their MCAL wins.
The Falcons kicked off the third quarter continuing their success, leading the scoreboard. Unfortunately that quickly changed after a timeout from the Wildcats, after which the team stepped up their game and climbed their way up to tie to the Falcons, then continued to dominate. The third quarter ended 40-42, with the Wildcats in the lead.
The crowd kept up their support as the game continued late into the night. The Wildcats managed to keep control of the upper hand, upping the score to 41-48. Grady scored another two points for the Falcons before getting injured and having to step out of the game. The Wildcats’ luck only grew, as they scored point after point. The game ended with a score of 45-52, an unfortunate loss for the Falcons.
“To move forward, we have to be a little bit more detail-oriented on both sides of the floor and just continue to build more discipline and more connectivity,” said head coach Russel Bauer. “I’m a little disappointed, but it’s all part of our journey towards reaching our peak later on in the season.”
The Falcons will play their next league game against the Branson Bulls Monday, Jan. 13, at College of Marin.
