- The Bears sweep the series 2-0 against the El Capitan Gauchos.
- Bears remain undefeated in the CCC with only four games left.
- Merced Bears have now won six straight games.
Merced High hosted El Capitan Friday night in a league matchup between hometown rivals, drawing a large crowd to the Bears’ gym. The game carried added importance with Merced entering undefeated in league play and El Capitan looking to improve its position in the standings.
The Bears opened the game with confidence as Aiden Matsuo connected on a three-pointer in the opening moments to put the Bears on the board first. El Capitan responded by attacking the basket through Zach Owens and Austin Gooding, earning early points in the paint and at the free-throw line. Jordan Thomas and Joviann Martinez then began to assert themselves for Merced, combining strong finishes near the rim with defensive pressure that helped the Bears establish early control as the opening quarter progressed. At the end of the first quarter, Merced held a 5 point lead with the score reading 15-10.
In the second quarter, Merced began to pull ahead. Joviann Martinez continued to dominate inside with strong finishes and runs to the free-throw line, while Nicholas Adams added key baskets near the rim. Isaiah Morales also contributed with a strong drive to the basket. El Capitan responded with perimeter shooting from Zach Owens, but Merced’s steady offense and disciplined defense kept them in control. By halftime, the Bears had built a lead of 37-25.
Merced came out strong to start the second half, with Valentin Vasquez hitting a three-pointer early to extend the lead. Thomas continued to attack the basket aggressively, while Kameron Rangel and Diego Aguilar added more score that kept the Bears comfortably ahead. Despite efforts from El Capitan to close the gap, Merced maintained control, ending the third quarter with a score of 55-34.
In the fourth quarter, Jordan Thomas took over with multiple consecutive layups, driving Merced’s lead even higher. The Bears showcased strong ball movement, highlighted by Adams’ smooth finish after a series of passes. The Gauchos continued to fight but couldn’t overcome Merced’s defensive intensity and consistent offense. When the final buzzer went off, Merced secured a decisive 77-42 victory.
Merced player Jordan Thomas, named MaxPreps Basketball Player of the Game, credited Merced’s defense, intensity, and energy for their strong performance against El Capitan, saying, “We really came out knowing what we were gonna do.” Reflecting on the win, Thomas called it “a big win” and said, “We just completed the mission.” His leadership and effort played a key role in securing the victory and earning him player of the game.
With this win, Merced remains undefeated and firmly in first place as they prepare to face Los Banos on February 4th at 7:15 p.m. Meanwhile, El Capitan, now with a 2-4 league record, looks to bounce back when they host Buhach Colony the same evening.
- Photos by Grace Gallegos. ↩︎
