Against a towering Mount Pleasant squad that won by 18 points in
their previous meeting, the Live Oak boys basketball team took its
game to a higher level Tuesday. The Acorns also took a step closer
to extending their season. Led by Austin Carvalho and Jakob Conlan,
who went for career highs with 18 and 10 points, Live Oak moved to
within a win of becoming eligible for the Central Coast Section
playoffs with a 55-40 victory.
Against a towering Mount Pleasant squad that won by 18 points in their previous meeting, the Live Oak boys basketball team took its game to a higher level Tuesday.
The Acorns also took a step closer to extending their season.
Led by seniors Austin Carvalho and Jakob Conlan, who went for career highs with 18 and 10 points, respectively, Live Oak moved to within a win of becoming eligible for the Central Coast Section playoffs with a 55-40 victory.
It was an ideal start to a pivotal four-game homestand for the Acorns, who pulled even with Mount Pleasant for fourth place in the West Valley Division.
“This was the biggest win of the season right here tonight. We needed to beat them,” Live Oak coach Brett Paolucci said. “We’ve got to get league wins if we’re gonna make it to the playoffs. We can’t have a .500 record. We have to be better, so every league game from here on out has to come with the same effort.”
When Mount Pleasant came out for warm-ups, fans took notice. The Cardinals’ frontcourt included 6-foot, 5-inch power forward Isaac Olson, 6-foot-4 center Brandon Lovett and 6-foot-3 wing Dantorie Reeves, a tall order for any opponent in the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
The Acorns countered with great man-to-man defense and an inspired effort by Carvalho. The 6-foot-3 forward looked a step faster than the Cardinals’ guards and a couple inches taller while pulling in eight rebounds.
“He had one of his best games I’ve seen,” said Conlan, who was impressive as well, shooting 4 for 6 from the field, including two 3-pointers. “He was really smart on defense.
“In the beginning he wasn’t hitting his shots. But then in the fourth quarter he was just leaving it all out there.”
Carvalho turned his 1-for-6 effort in the first quarter into a distant memory in the second half, when he collected 14 points and five rebounds and made 8 of 10 from the free-throw line.
“I just want to contribute any way I can to the team,” he said. “After that three-point game I had against Del Mar (on Jan. 20); we still won, but I didn’t do good. I don’t want to have that feeling anymore.”
Carvalho has averaged 14.3 points a game since then, while the Acorns (9-11, 6-4) have won two out of three.
“Austin’s been bringing it all yearlong,” Paolucci said. “I don’t question his work ethic at all. He puts effort in at practice. He puts effort in in games. He’s a warrior for us. I can always count on him.”
Carvalho came through especially big during a 4 1/2-minute stretch in the fourth quarter, beating his man off the dribble for two nice finishes, diving out of bounds for a loose ball that led to two free throws for teammate Luke Laguna, and passing over his right shoulder to Conlan for an open layup.
“Playing together long enough, you just know where everyone is on the court,” Carvalho said.
Live Oak was well prepared this time against Mount Pleasant (7-13, 6-4). Although the Acorns lost 54-36 in their last meeting on Jan. 10, they outscored the Cardinals by one in the second half while playing man to man. Tuesday Paolucci used the same defensive scheme the whole game, and the outcome was 180-degrees different. The Acorns produced 12 takeaways and held their own inside with big minutes from Danny Galli, Kalum Bergstrom, Eddie Plascencia and Carvalho.
“They weren’t intimidated. They just kept doing their best,” Conlan said.
“Just had to deny them,” Carvalho added.
Previn Wong had 11 points to lead Mount Pleasant, while Reeves (eight) and Olson (seven) scored in single figures.
“No energy tonight. That’s all I can say,” Cardinals coach Ryan Komagome said.
Laguna finished with 11 points, including six from the charity stripe, and Plascencia and Batey contributed seven points apiece.
Live Oak’s offense began to pick up after Mount Pleasant went on a 7-3 scoring run to tie it, 11-all, in the second quarter. Plascencia and Laguna answered with back-to-back 3s to put the Acorns ahead for good. They led 19-13 at halftime and pulled away by scoring 13 of the final seven points in the third quarter.
Live Oak had five turnovers in the game.
“We did a really good job of testing ourselves tonight,” Paolucci said. “We just had that confidence that we can compete with these guys.”
