The high school basketball season for local teams is well underway, but what’s coming to a quick close is the first semester for these high school teams. As Merced High wrapped up their last week with finals and winter festivities, the Bears basketball program hosted two home basketball games. The girls basketball team played East Union High on Tuesday night, and the boys followed by hosting Grace Davis High on Wednesday night. The girls entered their matchup against East Union with an 8–2 record, looking to continue a strong start to the season, while the boys came in at 4–2. With both teams playing against strong competition, the games offered a brief look at how each program is developing as they move further into the season.
Girls Basketball
The girls basketball team opened the week with a Tuesday home game against East Union that held special significance for Bears’ junior Averie Steverson who needed just one basket to reach one thousand points for her high school career. The Bears began the game with swift confidence, jumping out to a 5–0 lead before East Union responded and settled into the pace of the game. Junior guard Averie Steverson played a key role early, knocking down five two-point baskets in the first half and helping the Bears stay within reach as the teams traded possessions. The game momentarily paused for Steverson when she hit her first basket to reach the milestone, and she was able to acknowledge the moment with family and friends. East Union found consistent scoring from senior Shebra Rezaye, who scored from multiple spots on the floor, including a three-pointer and many other key shots. By the end of the first quarter, the Bears were leading 12–11. The back-and-forth continued into the second quarter as East Union matched the Bears point for point. The Lancers were able to apply enough pressure to eventually gain an advantage. At halftime, East Union held a close 24–22 lead.
East Union furthered the scoring in the third quarter when senior Ava Barrera connected on a three-pointer. Meanwhile, Rezaye continued to score from the floor for the Lancers. Merced responded behind contributions from multiple players, including a three-pointer from senior guard Amiyah Brown and another from freshman guard Aleena Trevino. Trevino carried her offensive momentum into the fourth quarter, adding two more baskets to help keep the Bears within striking distance late in the game. Despite Merced’s late attempt to come back, East Union was able to maintain its advantage in the closing moments, securing a 53–50 win.
The effort shown throughout the night reflected the steady growth of the program as a whole. Merced High School principal and former basketball coach Marcus Knott pointed to the team’s development, noting that the girls’ basketball program “has a lot of young talent” and that they are “getting better every time they step onto the court.”
Boys Basketball
Merced started strong in the first half, quickly taking control of the game. Senior guard Jordan Thomas helped set the pace with smooth passing and swift scoring, while senior forward Jared Brown hit a key three-pointer near halftime to extend the lead. By the break, Merced led Grace Davis 38-10, proving they could play at a pace the Spartans simply couldn’t match.
The second half saw Merced maintain their progress as they continued their strong defense and efficient offense. The Bears stayed aggressive, with senior guard Valentin Vasquez adding to the point total while keeping intense defensive pressure on Grace Davis. Despite some attempts by the Spartans to close the gap, Merced controlled the game and finished with an overwhelming 64-33 victory.
Alex Forbes, a senior center for Grace Davis, reflected on the game, saying, “We knew Merced was a strong shooting team, and we tried to shut them down, but we didn’t. For the next game, we need to improve on our defense and execute our offense better, and get more rebounds.” Merced High principal Marcus Knott praised both teams, noting that the boys “played really good defense.” He also stated, “you can see [the Bears] play for each other, which is nice to see.” With this win, the basketball program builds their record to a respectable 5-2 as they continue their season hoping to carry this energy into league games.
With the girls team holding an 8-2 record, and the boys improving to 5-2 after their win, both Merced basketball programs are displaying strong potential for the rest of the season. The girls will look to keep their progress going as they prepare for the Livingston High Leaders of the Pack Tournament. As for the boys, they will travel to Las Vegas to compete in the Tarkanian Classic.
- Photos by Grace Gallegos ↩︎
