The Live Oak boys basketball team opened league play with a commanding 75-43 victory over visiting James Lick Wednesday night. The Acorns improved to 6-5 overall while the Comets dropped to 2-8.
“We came into this game and we just wanted to be the aggressors,” said Live Oak coach Brett Paolucci. “We wanted to set the tempo and keep the tempo going for four quarters. And that’s what we did. I told the boys we’re starting the season fresh, 0-0.”
“From the start of the game, our confidence was up. We really just took it to them,” added junior guard Luke Laguna. “In the first quarter, the first couple minutes, we knew we had them. After that, coach had us press.”
Laguna scored 17 points for Live Oak, with nine of his points coming in the first quarter.
“We fell behind in the first quarter. We were flat and had no energy,” said James Lick coach Ronald Staden. “We were just getting out-hustled. We couldn’t match intensity with intensity. If you don’t have that then this is how it goes.”
By the end of the first quarter, Live Oak led 17-3.
“We were falling behind at the end of the first because we were getting sloppy and we weren’t hitting our shots,” said James Lick sophomore Mikko Relojo.
Going into the second quarter, the Acorns were aware of the score, but they played as though the game was still close.
“We expected a hard opponent. We had prepared for their traps and their zone,” said Live Oak power forward Cole Griffin. “We kept playing like it was 0-0 the whole game.”
Griffin scored eight of his 13 points in the second quarter as Live Oak increased its lead to 40-22. The Comets kept pace as their leading scorer Dweezyl Guitang scored 11 of his 13 total points in the second quarter.
“Like coach says, the game is never really over until its fourth quarter with no time remaining,” said Acorn point guard Ryan Rupp. “But I thought we were doing pretty well at halftime.”
“We were trying to get pumped up,” said Relojo. “Win or lose, we had to play through it until the end.”
Rajbir Singh added nine points for the Comets. Eddie Plascencia scored 18 for the Acorns.
Live Oak hosts Mt. Pleasant Friday afternoon.
“I expect the same mentality coming out and being aggressive. We play a really good team Friday night. Very physical, fast, and athletic team,” said Paolucci. “Our work is going to be cut out for us, but we just need to have the right mentality and go in with a little bit of momentum from tonight.”
“Both teams started off 0-0, it’s a new start,” said Acorn point guard Ardean Salvador. “We just got to take one game at a time.”
James Lick hosts San Jose Friday night.
