Eddie Stansberry played at Serra as a freshman on a team that made the section title game. But Stansberry left the San Mateo school for league rival Archbishop Riordan his sophomore year and, after sitting out that season, has now played one-plus seasons for the Crusaders.
So far Stansberry is 0-3 against his old school, but getting close to a victory. He made himself at home at his old gym on Tuesday night in a 60-57 loss to the Padres, scoring 22 points including making five 3-pointers. He also had seven rebounds and one blocked shot.
“Eddie looked good,” Riordan coach Rich Buckner said. “He has great lift on his jumper and he doesn’t get tired. He’s in great shape; he’s trimmed his body down. Teams are double-teaming him and he’s still scoring – 26 against Valley (Christian) and 22 against a defensive-minded Serra team.”
Stansberry averaged 18.5 points per game last season.
Buckner called Stansberry “the best player in Northern California that nobody’s heard about.” Added the Crusaders’ coach: “I think he’s under-valued. He didn’t really go out on the AAU summer circuit and that may be why (he’s not getting heavily recruited). A few schools are speaking to him and like him.”
Stansberry has a 2.75 GPA so he'll be a scholarship qualifier, Buckner said.
SENIOR MOMENT: Senior Jeremiah Testa, a reserve last season for Serra, out-scored Stansberry on Tuesday night by pouring in 25 points from a variety of angles, including a late 3-pointer that built the Padres' lead from two to five points.
"That was kind of a back-breaker for us," Riordan coach Buckner said. "We'd been playing him to drive all night."
The Padres out-scored Riordan 21-9 in the third quarter, but Riordan came roaring back in the fourth until Testa's late heroics decided things. Buckner said he was also impressed by Padre point guard Lee Jones who made numerous driving floaters.
HE'S OFFICIAL: Donald Robinson finally made his debut Tuesday night as the El Camino coach. Robinson’s hiring as coach was held up by a background check.
The Colts (0-11, 0-2) led by 13 entering the fourth quarter but fell 50-47 to host Terra Nova. Ari Pineda led El Camino with 11 points, while Jared Milch poured in 26 points for Terra Nova (7-6, 1-1).
“We didn’t execute down the stretch,” said Robinson, a former Mission High, Nevada and European pro player. “We played hard, but turnovers down the stretch hurt us. We can clean those up.”
Robinson said Terra Nova started trapping on defense and his team did not respond well. He also said Milch heated up in the fourth quarter.
“I didn’t think he’d get what he did,” Robinson said. “He made some tough buckets. We had a good effort but we just need to learn how to win. I think it’s a holdover from last year, plus we haven’t won a game this year.”
El Camino has another chance for its first win today when it hosts Jefferson.
PRIDE OVERFLOWING IN SUNSET: St. Ignatius beat Sacred Heart Cathedral 61-60 in the Bruce-Mahoney game on Tuesday night before a packed house at USF. The Wildcats' victory secured for SI the Bruce-Mahoney trophy which goes to the school that wins two events first among the competition between the traditional rivals in football, basketball (first league game only) and baseball (again, first league game).
It was a big win for coach Rob Marcaletti and his team.
“It feels really good, but most importantly feels good because I know how bad my seniors wanted it especially after losing on a buzzer beater last year," Marcaletti said. "It really has fueled the fire in their bellies all summer and fall during practices and workouts leading up to the season."
Marcaletti said the game is important because it commemorates a grad from each school who lost his life fighting in World War II and the tradition of the game is seen at SI as a nod to all of the alumni and teams who have gone through the school.
Asked what it was like to coach in the game, Marcaletti said: “The best part is to see and feel the energy around the school from the faculty, staff and student body during Spirit week. (It) makes me and the team proud to be a part of such a special place.”
The second-year Wildcats coach said a loud and vocal backing helped lift his team.
“We talked about it as a team in our pre-game meeting about taking a second to look up in warm-ups and appreciate all of our amazing SI community that came to the game to cheer on the SI boys and girls basketball program.”
GAME-WINNER: JH Tevis made a late tip-in to lift Menlo School past Woodside Priory on Tuesday night. Tevis’ father, Mike, was quarterback John Elway’s center at Stanford. JH (it stands for John Henry) is also a football player.
“For a sophomore he’s really good,” Menlo coach Keith Larsen said. “He’s a typical football guy. He’s one of those guys I have to tell ‘OK, it’s time to get the shoulder pads off.’ He’s not that smooth and kind of bulls his way over people, but he’s getting there. Once he plays some spring and summer league, I think he could be one of the best players in our league next year.”
Jared Lucian led Menlo with 16 points and Charlie Roth took 12 rebounds. Scotty Harris led Woodside Priory with 29 points.
Priory senior Scotty Harris scored 29 points.
Menlo hosts rival Sacred Heart Prep at 7:30 p.m. Friday. With erstwhile football players Andrew Daschbach, Nick O'Donnell and Mason Randall in the Gator line-up, Tevis will have some guys to bang around against.
PIEDMONT SHOWCASE: There’s an MLK boys basketball event Saturday at Piedmont High (near Oakland). Here is the schedule: Noon – Mt. Eden vs. Analy; 1:45 p.m. – St. Mary’s-Albany vs. Burton; 3:30 p.m. – St. Patrick’s vs. Sacred Heart Prep; 5:15 p.m. – Piedmont vs. Justin Siena; 7 p.m. – Mission-SF vs. Aptos; 8:30 p.m. – Half Moon Bay vs. Marin Catholic.
John Murphy is the Web Content Manager of Prep2Prep. Reach him at jmurphy@prep2prep.com and follow on Twitter @PrepCat
