The crosstown rivalry between Tracy High School and West High School on Friday, Jan. 17 in the Bill Swenson Gymnasium turned into a thrilling finish on the Bulldogs’ Hoopla Night. 

The Bulldogs started the game off slow as they took an early eight-point deficit and some early foul trouble from their starting guard, Lars Lindroos. After an exciting day of Hoopla activities, the Bulldogs came out flat with the Bulldogs trailing the Wolfpack 15-8.  

The Bulldogs continued their slow start to the game as they found themselves struggling on the offensive side of the ball. One of those offensive struggles was in the free throw category with them missing a total of six free throws in the first half.  

With about three minutes left in the first half, Cam Breckinridge, one of the Bulldogs’ starting guards, was forced to leave the game with an ankle injury. After the game, Breckinridge shared his thoughts following halftime.

“I had faith in my teammates and I knew we were going to win the second we got out of that locker room,” Breckinridge said.  

With Cam out they needed someone to step up. This person was Jaden Martinez senior guard and 6tth man. He came into the game making impacts with 2 steals and 2 assists in the first few minutes of the half. 

Jaden Martinez stepped up at the guard position in the first few minutes of the half as he got two steals and assists, helping shift some of the momentum in the Bulldogs’ direction. 

 The odds weren’t looking in Tracy’s favor as they had a 10-point deficit going into the fourth quarter.  

Maximillian Russell turned the game around for the Bulldogs as he hit back-to-back three pointers and a layup, cutting the Wolfpack lead to four. After some back and forth action, the Bulldogs were still at their four-point deficit before Jaden Martinez hit a big time three, cutting the deficit to just one.  

With eight seconds left in the game, Kareem Asaf inbounded the ball from the baseline to the sophomore forward, Gabriel Canalita, who put up an easy layup, delivering the final blow to the Wolfpack with a final score of 60-59.  

Coach Junior commented on their team following the thrilling finish to their big night.  

“We have a pack of boys that have played with each other since middle school,” Junior said. “We are a family not just a team.”