Creekside Wins Championship in Second Battle of Valley

Pictured (from left to right) are: Zach Koster aka Big Red, Lorenzo Musson, Jojo Knight, Spencer Wong, Ryan Phung, Nate Price, Gibson Anaya, Henry Harris, Gianni Welch. Head Coach is Mike Cardoze, Asst Coach is Gio Welch.

The Boys Basketball 8th Grade teams at Creekside Middle School and Canyon Middle School met in a second “Battle of the Valley” with a winner-take-all for the Southern Alameda County Middle Athletic League (SACMAL) Championship at Arroyo High School on October 17.

This season, both teams came in undefeated at 8-0. Canyon won the first “Battle of the Valley” on October 8 to make them the Number 1 Seed and Creekside the Number 2 Seed going into the playoffs.

After two playoff games each—Creekside (defeated Newark Junior High Cougars and Itliong-Vera Cruz Cougars) and Canyon (defeated the Bancroft Broncos and the Washington Manor Wolves)—the two Castro Valley Schools met again.

In the Championship round, both teams played and battled very hard with several lead changes during the game. Canyon’s team led by 5 points at halftime. Then, in the 4th quarter with Creekside up 45-44, Jojo Knight got fouled and made a free throw which made the score 46-44 with 25 seconds left in the game. With 14 seconds left in the game and coming out of a time out, Canyon was not able to score. Creekside won the Championship 46-44 and bragging rights for the year.

Creekside’s Gianni Welch finished the game with 19 points and 12 rebounds. His teammate, Jojo Knight, finished with 10 points.

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(Left to Right)

1- Zach Koster aka Big Red
2- Lorenzo Musson
3- Jojo Knight
5- Spencer Wong
6- Ryan Phung
8- Nate Price
9- Gibson Anaya
10- Henry Harris
11- Gianni Welch

Head Coach- Mike Cardoze

Asst Coach- Gio Welch