The Wilcox boys’ varsity basketball team opened their two-game-season series with the first-place Palo Alto Vikings back on Jan. 22. While the Chargers knew they were in for a tough matchup playing on the road against the top league opponent, they were certainly hoping for a much better start.
The Vikings, however, came out on the starboard side of the scoreboard, quickly going up 10-0. They would finish off their first-quarter bombardment with a 21-7 advantage. Wilcox eventually settled in the rest of the way but couldn’t find enough sustained success to ever really get back in the game. After falling behind as much as 18 in the first half, Wilcox would get no closer than 12 the rest of the way.
“We just gotta start games better,” succinctly stated senior guard Brayden Rosa. “Against all these good, great teams, we always start down and put ourselves in huge holes that are tough to get back out from. We have to work on our starts; we always end up picking up the pace, but we are always playing down 10 or 12, and it’s hard to play that way.”
Rosa was one of a pair of standout players for the Chargers on the night. The football and basketball star shined with multiple drives to the basket, ending in tough floaters for two points. Teammate Yousef Iqtish shone brightest with his three-point shot.
“It’s great having him on the team because he spaces out the floor so well,” praised Rosa on Iqtish. “When Semaj [Clark] and I have the ball, a lot of eyes are locked in on us, so when we drive and kick, we know he is a reliable shooter in the corner to make those wide-open threes. And he’s just a tough shot maker. You’ve seen him make some mid-range shots too. He uses his size and long arms to his advantage really well.”
Despite the loss, Iqtish was more than happy to return the compliments Rosa’s way.
“He’s always got the right mentality, just go and attack,” lauded Iqtish. “When he knows he needs to put the game in his hands, we trust him to do just that.”
With Rosa, Clark and Iqtish leading the way, Head Coach Ruben Camacho expressed extreme optimism that the rematch on the Chargers home court can go much differently than Wednesday’s 60-42 loss.
“I’m encouraged because they kept fighting, they kept competing,” chimed Camacho after the game. “That’s the big positive I’m taking out of this one. We still have them coming to our place, and that is a difference. The environment here, the background for shooting, it’s different. You have to get used to the depth perception here.”
Outside of Iqtish, the usual strong outside shooting from the Chargers was relatively nonexistent in this first meeting between the teams. A couple of threes here and there fall in, and this game could have looked a lot different. The Chargers will get their home rematch with the Vikings on Feb. 12.
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