Sports Briefs: Branson boys pick up big win ahead of MCAL opener
Three Branson School players scored more than 20 points as the Bulls held off Bay Area powerhouse University, 77-68, on Wednesday. Sophomore Heath French scored a team-high 22 points with five 3-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds.
Junior Chase Robertson and sophomore NJ Gray each scored 21 points for the Bulls (8-7). Robertson added four rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in a solid all-around effort. Gray tallied three rebounds, five assists and three steals. Branson is scheduled to open MCAL play Friday against rival Redwood and former Bulls star Semetri Carr.
Men’s basketball
K’Hamani Olivacce had a huge game with 31 points and 10 assists in College of Marin’s 90-81 road win over Mendocino on Wednesday. Akili Johnson added 15 points and nine rebounds, and Josh Clark came off the bench for 12 points, while Denim Tuala-Fata finished with 10 points.
• Junior Darius Best scored 20-plus points for the second game in a row, but Dominican University couldn’t close out the win, falling on the road 89-86 at Fresno Pacific on Wednesday. Best led all scorers with 25 points. Jaayden Bush added 19 points for the Penguins, who also got 13 from Nathan Ilunga.
Women’s basketball
Starter Jaidyn Brown scored a team-high 24 points and Ty Chappell came off the bench for 23 points as College of Marin blew past Mendocino, 101-39, on Wednesday. Isabella Zepeda and Bella Turner scored 10 points each.
• Dominican University survived a wild contest against Fresno Pacific 68-61 on Wednesday in a game with 12 lead changes Alaiyah San Juan led the Penguins (10-8, 4-3 PacWest) with a game-high 24 points, while Taylor Linzie added a double-double of 14 points and 16 rebounds.
• University of San Diego’s scheduled game at Loyola Marymount for Friday has been postponed due to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. San Diego was coming off Sunday’s 72-66 loss to Pacific, in which Redwood High grad Kylie Horstmeyer grabbed 10 points and six rebounds.