Marin Briefs: Big four lead Branson boys to Huber title

Boys basketball

Four players scored in double figures for the Bulls as Branson claimed the championship in the Chris Huber Memorial Tournament with a 59-55 victory over St. Ignatius on Thursday.

Tournament MVP Joaquim Arauz-Moore scored 13 points. Jase Butler highlighted the scoresheet with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Semetri Carr also scored 16 points. Both were named to the all-tournament team. George Gale also notched a double-double, with 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks for the Bulls (10-2).

Branson is 1-1 against St. Ignatius this season. The Bulls return to MCAL play on Tuesday against Terra Linda.

• Redwood grabbed third place in the Chris Huber Memorial Tournament with a 51-48 victory over host Acalanes, behind a big night from sophomore Jake Vasquez, who poured in 17 points and 11 rebounds. Ains Fish also had a double-double for the Giants (10-3), with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Aiden Squiers contributed with eight rebounds and four points.

Redwood lost to St. Ignatius, 61-41, in Wednesday’s semifinals, despite getting 13 points from Fish and eight points from Eli Whitney.

The Giants’ first game of 2022 is scheduled for Jan. 6 against Tamalpais in Larkspur.

• Marin Catholic lost to Folsom, 70-56, to finish fourth in the Don Bambauer Memorial Classic on Thursday. Marin Catholic fell to MLK High, 85-78, in a wild semifinal matchup Wednesday night. Four Wildcats scored in double figures as Kyle Winters scored a team-high 24 points. Caden Maas tallied 16 points and three assists and Dylan Ryssemus got 14 points and four steals. Noah Deitch added 10 points.

• Three Panthers scored in double figures as San Domenico defeated Mills, 63-43, to claim 13th place at the Don Bambauer Memorial Classic, hosted by Marin Catholic on Thursday, Gytis Gervickas led the way with 27 points, while Drew Morehouse added 15 points and Jimmy Hoagland rang up 12 points.

The Panthers (3-8) have a week off before they visit Marin Academy on January 6, 2022.

• San Marin fell to Central Catholic, 58-48, to finish 12th at the Bambauer Classic.

• Jack Healy’s 22 points and 10 rebounds led San Rafael past Healdsburg, 60-43, on Thursday. Senior Nate Bender had 15 points and sophomore Parker Thommes chipped in eight points. James Rider and Marcos Tolliver stepped up the defense in the fourth quarter to hold off Healdsburg. The Bulldogs (5-8) return to MCAL play on Tuesday against Marin Catholic.

Girls basketball

Redwood’s late rally effort fell short in a 44-39 loss to Pleasant Grove as the Giants finished fourth in the Quartz bracket of the West Coast Jamboree. The Giants managed to pull even with the Eagles at 38 apiece after a 3-pointer by sophomore Tatum McPeek in the fourth period, but never led in the game. Senior Bridgette Ryning, who scored a team-high 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds, was named to the all-tournament team. Senior Brianna Ortiz tallied nine points, seven rebounds and five steals.

• Junior Mary Healy tallied a double-double to help lead San Rafael past Santa Rosa, 50-38. Healy put up 14 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomore Marucelia Rodas scored a team-high 24 points to go with four steals. Junior Tenley Brovelli added 11 points for the Bulldogs (8-4).

• San Marin defeated San Domenico, 38-31, to claim the championship in the Onyx Bracket of the West Coast Jamboree.

• Terra Linda fell to Pleasant Valley, 67-41, in a consolation game in the Ivory Bracket of the West Coast Jamboree.

College football

Boise State running backs coach and player development director Winston Venable is stepping down from his position after two seasons to pursue other opportunities, head coach Andy Avalos announced Thursday.

“Winston is one of the greatest players to suit up for Boise State, and has done a tremendous job of mentoring not only our running backs, but every young man that has chosen to play for the Broncos over the last several years,” Avalos said. “Although he is leaving his current role, he will always be part of this brotherhood and I know he will find a way to continue to impact our student-athletes.”

Venable, 34, starred at San Rafael High before his success as a linebacker at Boise State during the 2009-10 seasons. In his debut campaign with the Broncos, his interception in the final minute sealed a 17-10 victory over TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

“I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to come back and impact a program that helped shape who I am today,” Venable said. “The lessons I learned from being a Bronco – as a coach, staff member and student-athlete – will be with me for the rest of my life.

“This program is in great hands with Coach Avalos, and I am excited to see the Broncos continue to win championships and compete amongst the elite teams in college football.”

A two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection, Venable signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears following his Boise State career. He played in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes from 2012-16, where he was named a CFL All-Star in 2015.

Venable was named to Boise State’s All-Blue Team, a celebration of the program’s greatest players during its first 30 years. Following his professional playing career, he returned to Boise State and earned his bachelor’s degree in communication in 2017. Venable served as the Broncos’ player development director from 2018-19 and in 2021.