by Macade Maxwell

As the basketball regular season approaches its end, the St. John Bosco Braves still have all their major goals within reach, as they look to live up to the pre-season hype. Sitting at a comfortable 21-4 overall record, the Braves navigated their way to success against a schedule filled with fierce competitive teams each game. 

“We knew before the season that our schedule was incredibly difficult, both in terms of the national level teams we were going to play and also the travel,” said Head Coach Matt Dunn.

Not only do the Braves have an impressive overall record, but they also have a respectable 6-1 record in league play, currently standing in a tie atop the Trinity League standings with the “Team in Red.” Despite being in possibly the most competitive league in the state, the Braves have handled their business and showed their ability to compete against any team they face. 

The saying “home court advantage” is definitely in effect when the Braves are playing in the Thunderdome with an immaculate record this season of 8-0 when playing in front of a home crowd. In the last three seasons, the Braves have only dropped two games on its home court.

“I feel like there’s an advantage when playing at home because we know this place better than anybody else,” said five–star sophomore Brandon McCoy, Jr. 

The Braves have established themselves as a powerful presence nationwide, ranking 30th in the country according to MaxPreps. This high achievement shows that the Braves are not only highly ranked in the country but also at the top of the rankings as one of the best high school basketball team in California. 

The unique attributes of each player are the recipe for success for the Braves. Everybody on the team plays a unique role and can contribute their talents to secure wins.

Number two nationally ranked sophomore, Brandon McCoy, Jr., has been a standout performer for the team. According to MaxPreps, McCoy leads the team in points scored (440, 18 per game), rebounds (198, eight per game) and steals (67, three per game).

Senior sharpshooter Jack Turner has showcased his ability to hit shots from anywhere on the floor, maintaining the highest three-point percentage on the team. Beyond his ability to get buckets and create offensive opportunities for the Braves, the Loyola-Chicago commit has cemented himself in his senior season as a leader and floor general, showcasing excellent intangibles on both ends of the floor.

Junior Elzie Harrington has been a consistent playmaker for the team, being able to convert his shots at a high percentage and set up opportunities for his teammates to score, as he leads the team in assists averaging six per game to go along with 14 points per game. 

Junior Kade Bonam was also a reliable force in the first half of the season, shooting an efficient 60% field goal percentage and averaging 17 points per game before being sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered in the team’s loss to the “Team in Red” at Crypto.com Arena. Nonetheless, the Braves have embraced a “next man up” mentality and have seen major contributions in recent games from their bench.

“I believe if we all play our part and play together as a team, we can definitely win it all this year,” said junior Jaison Joyce, who has had a personal resurgence off the bench in Kade’s absence. 

The season’s has brought the Braves a series of triumphs and obstacles. The Braves made the trip to Honolulu, Hawaii to compete in the Iolani Classic, where they finished 3-1 in the tournament, including a win against nationally ranked DeMatha High School from Maryland. Despite a tough loss against their league rival, the “Team in Red,” the Braves have been able to bounce back and show their ability to move forward and progress as a team. 

“I think we have learned a lot from each of our four losses, and hopefully, we are applying those lessons as we move forward,” said Coach Dunn. “I do feel like we are playing our best basketball at the right time, which is the goal of every season.”

Some additional achievements and challenges followed the team to the 2024 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Missouri, giving them the opportunity to play some of the best teams across the country at the most highly attended high school basketball tournament in the nation. Playing in big venues like the Great Southern Bank Arena in Missouri and the famous Crypto.com Arena, home of the Lakers and Clippers, has allowed the team the opportunity to play under pressure in front of high-capacity crowds. 

In Missouri, the Braves picked up a big victory against nationally ranked Edmond North High School from Oklahoma before losing in the tournament’s title game to the then number one ranked team in the country, Paul VI High School our of Virginia.

With three Trinity League match-ups remaining, the Braves are preparing to play critical games against Santa Margarita, the “Team in Red,” and Orange Lutheran. With aspirations to win another league title and hopes for high seeding in playoffs, Coach Dunn’s squad has to remain focused and finish the season off on a strong note, as the journey to settle unfinished business remains in sight. 

The Braves take on the Santa Margarita Eagles tonight at 7pm at the Thunderdome with the crowning of St. John Bosco and St. Joseph’s High Schools’ Winter Formal King at halftime.