Early Branham run leads to 15-point loss for Live Oak boys

All it took was 1:29 for the Branham boys basketball team to take Live Oak out of Wednesday’s game.
In that stretch to start the game, Branham scored 10 unanswered points and the Bruins went on to dominate the game in a 55-40 win over the Acorns.
The Acorns got their bearings just long enough to make the score a respectable 19-9 after the first quarter, but things got worse in the second.
Live Oak was held to no field goals in the second quarter, making just six free throws to go into the halftime break down 33-15.
For their part, Live Oak rallied in the third quarter, but the deficit was just too great.
After Branham took a 22-point lead to start the third quarter, Live Oak went on an 11-0 scoring run and looked like the Acorns were going to make a game of it.
“We dug ourselves a tremendous hole in the first half and then we come out and we clawed and clawed,” said coach Brett Paolucci. “We were more aggressive in the second half, but you can’t did yourself a hole like that and expect to win.”
But when Live Oak looked like it was going to get the game to single digits going into the fourth quarter, Branham’s Alex Hall got a pair of put backs to give the Bruins a 41-29 margin.
Live Oak kept up the good fight in the fourth quarter, pulling the deficit down to nine thanks to Mitch Conforti hitting a bucket and then making one of two free throws to start the quarter.
Ultimately, however, a Jordan Sakamoto 3-pointer put the game back to a 12-point margin.
“It wasn’t a matter of running out of gas, Branham ran their stuff beautifully,” Paolucci said. “They did what ever they wanted to tonight. They got the ball inside, we collapsed and boom, they kick it out to their shooters.”
Paolucci said it ultimately hurt that Branham had the size advantage, which led to offensive rebounds and put back shots.
Charles O’Blea hit two more treys to close out the quarter and put the game out of reach.
O’Blea led all shooters with 22 points including four 3-pointers.
Hall followed with 14 points and a game-high seven rebounds and four blocks.
For Live Oak, Josh Carvalho led the team with 12 points followed by Brandon Balala with 10.
Conforti and Justin Baker each led Live Oak with five rebounds.
Live Oak will remain at home on Friday to host James Lick at 7 p.m.