Sports Briefs: San Marin’s Cubley shines in rivalry game

Nick Cubley put up big numbers to lead San Marin past Novato, 72-59, in Thursday’s crosstown rivalry game. Cubley finished with a career-high 45 points for the third-place Mustangs (13-10, 7-6 MCAL), who are scheduled to take on first-place Branson on Saturday.

“To me, it just felt like a normal game,” Cubley said. “I wasn’t just trying to force anything. … I had 22 points in the first half and my teammates really contributed to that.”

I feel good with season. it’s not over yet.

Josh DeVore led the Hornets (3-18, 3-9) with 20 points.

“The fact that it’s the rivalry, that’s why I felt it was a special game,” said Cubley, whose Mustangs have just three games left before the MCAL playoffs.

“I feel like this has been a good season,” Cubley said. “And it’s not over yet.”

• A complete team effort and a tight defense carried San Rafael over Terra Linda, 53-50, in Thursday night’s rivalry rematch. Marcos Tolliver and Luke Shapiro each scored 10 points, while James Rider and Brendan Davidson each finished with nine points for the Bulldogs (8-15, 3-9 MCAL). Rider added 11 rebounds, and Davidson and Tolliver each pulled down eight.

Dylan Martin scored 20 points and JD Monge hit six 3-pointers for the Trojans (14-8, 5-7 MCAL), who won the first meeting between the crosstown rivals, 58-37, on January 5.

• A second-half surge hoisted Redwood to a 80-44 victory over Archie Williams on Thursday night. The Giants led 36-22 at the break, but shut down the Peregrine Falcons offense in the third quarter. Jake Vasquez led the Giants with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Ains Fish tallied 14 points and four rebounds.

• Marin Catholic saw even scoring from its lineup as four Wildcats scored in double figures during Thursday’s 65-58 victory over Tamalpais. Charles Williams set the pace with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, followed closely by JR Bosch with 16 points four rebounds and three assists. Theo Pontes chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds, and Caden Mass had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Tam was led by Zane Yarnold and Auvil Cole with 15 points each.

Girls basketball

Three Wildcats scored in double figures as Marin Catholic defeated Tam, 61-33, on Thursday. Gracyn Lovette led the Wildcats’ attack with 13 points, while Cecily Hadd scored 11 points and Maddie Dayton finished with 10 points. Lauren Gogna added seven points in the winning effort for Marin Catholic (17-5, 12-0 MCAL).

• With three games left to play in the regular season, San Marin is grasping tightly onto its hopes of climbing to the top of the MCAL standings. The Mustangs (18-5, 11-2 MCAL) remain just two games out of first place after Thursday’s 52-14 drubbing of crosstown rival Novato.

The Mustangs need luck on their side, but they are still mathematically within reach of league leader Marin Catholic, which has four games left to play.

• Terra Linda held off archival San Rafael, 34-24, on Thursday to avenge an earlier loss to the Bulldogs and split their season series.

College baseball

The Mariners stumbled out of the gate with a 9-0 loss Friday to host Diablo Valley to start the 2023 season, however College of Marin will have a chance at revenge Saturday in Kentfield in the second half of a home-and-home series. Steven Elsner and Jacob Campbell got the only two hits for the Mariners, who struck out 15 times.

Mariners started Jake Tire pitched five scoreless innings before handing the ball to reliever Sid Polston, who faced three batters and gave up two runs in the sixth to take the loss. Five Marin pitchers combined to give up 11 hits.