In an intense cross-town rivalry game, boys basketball beat Gunn High School 54-52 on Jan 10. 

Gunn kicked the game off with intensity, ending the first quarter with a 16-10 lead. By the end of the half, Palo Alto managed to turn the deficit around and lead 28-27 going into halftime. 

Head coach Jeff LaMere said that his team managed to crawl back after the players hit more shots. 

“I think we ended up hitting the shot,” LaMere said.  “We started understanding how quick they were, how strong they were, and how we needed to play.”  

LaMere also said the team needed to be able to adapt to Gunn’s aggressive style of play.

“Guards have to be ready to get trapped, and they were just more aggressive, more physical,” LaMere said. “Then on the offensive end, they were taking the ball to the basket, and we weren’t providing resistance. And so we called a time out, and we talked about how we got to get tougher. We got to play stronger.”

Junior point guard Rocco Smith said the game exposed some weaknesses in the team’s style.

“I thought it was a bit sloppy,” Smith said. “But overall we did a good job of fighting at the end and holding on our lead and playing together and playing hard. It’s our identity all year.”

Smith also said the team’s first quarter performance was brought down by Gunn’s strong crowd.

“I think that it was kind of the environment that bothered us a lot,” Smith said. “I think after the first quarter, we really brought more energy and kept it going more.” 

The Vikings made only a quarter of their free throw shots, and Smith said that issomething that the team definitely needs to work on. 

“Our coach talked about that in the locker room,” Smith said. “We need to work on our free throw shooting, which is our worst (thing) all season. We’re going to get into the gym, and we’ll fix it.”

LaMere said he was happy with the atmosphere and that more high school games should have the same energy. 

“It was a heck of a game. What a great crowd,” LaMere said. “This is what high school basketball should be. I really appreciate (students who attend), and I hope they come to see more games because it can be an exciting atmosphere.”