The Raiders took a crucial rivalry win at Sun Bash on Friday, Dec. 6. After an overtime loss to a divisional rival Belen Jesuit the previous night, the team looked for a quick bounce back to cap off rivalry week.
The Raiders kicked off the game shooting from deep, with big-time three-pointers from senior guards Daniel Wood, Jacob Marquez, and Walker Allen. However, a low-scoring second quarter and foul trouble put the team back 22-28 at halftime.
During the break, Head Coach Hossam Marquez emphasized on taking pride in defense, showing toughness and playing hard have been key factors to previous wins, and could lead them to a successful second half.
“It’s really fun and really cool. Some people might see it as a son and dad thing but I love having him as a coach. He lets me play how I want to play and lets the team play how we want to play, so I think it’s great,” Marquez said, regarding his dad being the coach.
However, adversity struck early in the second half, extending the Raider deficit to 12 in a 40-28 ballgame. This did not phase the players, as fastbreaks and buckets in transition marked an impressive comeback, making the score 45-44 Raiders at the end of the third quarter. The depth in the Raiders’ roster helped them pull away, with junior guards Samuel “Champ” Smith and Leondrez Leonard both playing crucial roles off the bench.
“I had fun; it started on the defensive side, we were scrappy and the offense just came by itself. I was really excited getting that win especially after Belen and it brought my morals back up,” Roberts said.
The fourth quarter was a nail biter, as the teams kept on going back and forth, with both teams leaving it all on the floor. After the Westminster Warriors got into foul trouble and exceeded the five per quarter limit, the Raiders would start to pull away with clutch free throws from senior guard Jacob Marquez and Caden Roberts, forward Luke Mansfeild and junior “Champ” Smith to give the Raiders a 66-59 win. Marquez would end the game with 29 points and winning the games MVP, adding to his impressive seasons campaign.
“Trusting in my coach, trusting in my work and my team and doing what I can do to make sure we win. The momentum is good; even though we let one slip against Belen, we got a good win against Westminster,” Marquez said.
Coming in with a 5-1 record, the Raiders are set to face Divine Savior at 7:30 pm at Divine Savior, where they hope to continue their hot streak.
