With everything that is going on in our country right now as far as COVID-19 and shutdowns, etc., I had some time on my hands so I decided to create the top 5 HS Basketball games list that I ATTENDED AND COVERED this season with a little description and video if I have one. If you have a game that you were at that was a good one, let us know in the comments section!

1. (Boys) St Patrick-St Vincent vs Branson-NCS Division 3 Championship game.

St Patrick-St Vincent and Branson played an overtime thriller in a game of two of the best teams in Northern California.  The teams traded buckets in a rather low scoring third quarter, as stifling defense was played on both sides. With St Pat’s leading by seven, the Bulls hit three consecutive three’s to take a two-point lead. Peyton Mullarkey, who was in foul trouble hit the first one, then sophomore Jake Beere hit two in a row from the corner to turn the Branson faithful into a frenzy as the Bulls had taken the lead back. Late in the game the Bruins held a three point lead, after a Branson turnover netted them two points, but Lukas Prongos hit a three in the corner with about 10 seconds left to tie things up for Branson. SPSV toughed out the overtime period to eventually pull away with a 43-40 win. Video here

2. (Boys) Jesuit vs Branson-CIF Division 2 Nor Cal playoff round 1

Jesuit jumped out to a quick 16-6 lead in what would be a game of runs. The Bulls had cut a 10 point deficit to just four at 20-16 at the half, with Jesuit on top. In the 4th, Peyton Mullarkey hit two three’s, one from each corner to give Branson a three point lead with 2:56 to play. Lukas Prongos had a big night on both ends of the floor, blocking a key shot off the hands of Jesuit’s Kyle Anderson with 38.8 seconds to play. After that, the Bulls went 5-6 from the charity stripe, with Prongos going three for four, and Miles Keefe hitting the other two to seal the victory. Video here

3. (Boys) Rancho Cotate vs Petaluma-Trojan Classic

Petaluma had already beaten Rancho Cotate in the Rose City tournament, but the Cougars had shown resiliency in the opening part of the season, without their football players who were playing for a state championship. In this match up, the Cougars had their full roster back, they had trailed by as many as 15 in the third quarter, but cut the deficit to 10 heading into the final stanza. Rancho outscored Petaluma 22-6 in the 4th quarter, and got some huge plays. Darius Hurst started it off with a 4 point play, then Issac Candelaria got an old fashioned three point play to bring it down to three. Buckets by Candelaria and Andrew Pengel gave the Cougars the lead, and then Pengel would give them the lead for good with a three with 1:23 remaining to put them up four and seal their comeback victory. Video here

4. (Boys) Tamalpais vs Redwood-MCAL Game 12/20/19

Two Marin County Athletic League Rivals squared off early in the season, and it was a good one. Tam led 16-11 after one, and would  build a 33-23 halftime lead.  After Tamalpais built their lead to a game high 37-23. Redwood would slowly but surely come back into the game. The Giants were able to get to the charity stripe, and another three from Quanstrom made it an 8-0 run and a 37-31 deficit. After Tamalpais’ David Spector missed two free throws, Redwood’s Pasquale Ancona made just a four point game with a bucket near the end of the quarter. Redwood would have plenty of chances to tie the game or take the lead in the final quarter, but the Giants missed six straight free throws and Dylan Reed’s two free throws with 20.2 seconds remaining made it the 44-41 final. Video here

5. (Girls) Casa Grande vs Petaluma-VVAL game 2/4/2020

Casa Grande had already wrapped up a share of the league championship, and was playing to make an undefeated run in the VVAL. Petaluma had other plans and got off to a fast start with Sheriene Arikat scoring 15 quick points in the first half, including her 1,000th of her career. Casa Grande came back to take a late lead, but Mallory O’Keefe’s floater would change that to put the Trojans up 1. After Taylor Iacopi and Arikat were fouled, they missed all four of their free throws, but key offensive rebounds by Mandy O’Keefe got Iacopi back to the line, where she sank both free throws to put Petaluma up three. Emma Reese missed a potential game tying three for Casa Grande, and put Mallory O’Keefe back at the line for the Trojans with just over a second left to sink the icing free throws for a 49-44 Petaluma win over the crosstown rivals. Video here

I’ll throw in an honorable mention College game, Humboldt State vs Sonoma State Women’s Basketball in CCAA action. Check the insane ending here.

Throw in your favorite game of the year in the comments section!

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