HMB, Jeff share PAL North Division boys’ title

“We’ve had a nice run here definitely but our focus all year has been kind of from this point forward,” Half Moon Bay head coach John Parsons said. “We’re focused on the county playoffs and CCS and Nor Cal. I guess it says a lot about the program and where it’s been.”

For the Jefferson Grizzlies, however, their dramatic 47-45 win at home over Terra Nova finished with an animated on-court celebration. And why not? While it does mark the program’s 20th all-time league title, it is the first since 2006-07, and the first in the nine-year career of head coach John Falabella.

“We’ve always been close to winning a league title with these guys … and this year we were able to do it,” Falabella said.

Dramatics at Jeff

The Grizzlies (11-1 PAL North, 18-6 overall) almost saw the co-championship slip away in the closing seconds. While Jefferson led the entire fourth quarter, an 8-point lead was shrunk to 2 in the final minute when senior Josh Milch converted on a dribble-drive. Then, with 20 seconds remaining, Jefferson turned over the ball.

Terra Nova head coach Kenny Milch called a timeout and the Tigers (8-4, 12-12) came out of it looking to penetrate. But an ill-fated pass into the paint with 10 seconds remaining was met with a leaping steal by Grizzlies guard Marquez Costiniano.

“I didn’t even know it was coming,” Costiniano said. “I wasn’t thinking. I just saw the ball and felt like I was a [football defensive back] and had to go get it.”

With 10 seconds remaining on the clock, Terra Nova needed to foul Costiniano as he dribbled around the court, but didn’t.

“Our guys are fast and were able to play keep-away,” Falabella said.

Jefferson got another 20-plus scoring performance from center Rodney Lawrence. The 6-6 senior went for a game-high 25 points, including eight in the final quarter. Senior point guard Daniel Benjamin added 14 points but was an assist machine all night long.

“We’ve been waiting for [Benjamin] to get a 10-assist game all year,” Falabella said. “This might have been it.”

Terra Nova was paced by senior Alex Para with 11 points. Josh Milch and Dylan McAdams added 10 points apiece.

HMB’s dynasty runs deep

As Half Moon Bay senior guard Gavin Tomberlin launched an overhanded football-style pass down court to start a fast break Tuesday night at El Camino, it was a reminder of what a special year it has been for Cougars athletics.

Tomberlin quarterbacking the HMB football team to the program’s first-ever Northern California title may stand as the highlight, but it is one of many trophies that will adorn the school’s trophy case from the 2017-18 school year.

“It’s a special time,” Parsons said. “You look at pretty much every sports team, it’s success.”

Tuesday’s hoops title marks the third PAL championship in the winter sports season alone for HMB. Last week, both the boys’ wrestling team and the boys’ soccer team clinched PAL titles.

And while the Half Moon Bay girls’ basketball team has been eclipsed by South City in the PAL North Division standings in recent years, the Lady Cougars finished off their second-place run Tuesday with a win at El Camino. This comes just one year after HMB won the first Central Coast Section championship in program history in 2016-17.

“It’s kind of a nice golden age of success there, so it’s just fun to be part of it,” Parsons said.

Tuesday’s boys win, while lopsided in score, saw the Cougars (11-1, 20-4) never take their collective foot off the proverbial accelerator, especially on defense. HMB pressured the Colts (3-9, 3-18) with the full-court press. The reason? Fueling the transition game.

“Tonight was one of those nights we wanted to force as many possessions as possible,” Parsons said. “So hopefully that will be a weapon in the postseason if we need it.”

HMB big man Ethan Menzies notched a double-double, finishing with a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds. Senior guard Sam Treanor and junior forward Danny Mack added 11 points apiece.

With the PAL Tournament beginning Wednesday, the field is set after Jefferson won the coin toss to earn the top seed out of the PAL North. Jefferson will host Aragon Thursday, while HMB will host Menlo-Atherton. The HMB game at the Cabrillo Unified School District Event Center is slated for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off, with the HMB girls’ basketball team hosting its PAL tourney opener previous to that at 6 p.m.