Boys basketball: Rivals begin BCL title quest with Thursday showdown
Senior Grayson Rothbart is looking to help Marin Academy snap its lengthy drought in the Bay Counties League, and the signs are encouraging for the Wildcats, who are off to their strongest start in 15 years.
Marin Academy has finished at or near the bottom of the BCL West every season since the 2018-19 campaign when the Wildcats finished third, and reached the North Coast Section Division V quarterfinals. That was the last year Marin Academy posted a winning record (16-11), but buoyed by a talented junior class, Marin Academy is building for a turnaround.
The Wildcats (12-3) open league play Thursday against powerhouse San Domenico (11-3) in Sleepy Hollow. Marin Academy hasn’t beaten San Domenico since Jan. 12, 2022. A win Thursday could be key for either team’s title hopes against a powerful BCL.
San Domenico, coming off an appearance in the CIF NorCal D-III playoffs last season, is charting a season of destiny with five seniors in the starting lineup, anchored by Rastko Dobromirovic, Ika Jokhadze, Stephen Song and Omar Williams and big man Oskar Valiauga.
“The goal is to reach our potential as a team,” San Domenico head coach Tyler Gaffaney said.
The BCL title hopefuls will also have to contend with a strong University squad (10-3), ranked fifth in the NCS by MaxPreps. San Domenico is ranked 18th, with Marin Academy sitting 23rd.
Marin Academy has been building its resume this season. The Wildcats recently claimed the Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament, where junior Trystan Standfield was named tournament MVP and junior Kainoah Ho earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Rothbart and junior Alex Kaludis have also added a boost to Marin Academy’s offense this season.
“We are growing and transcending at the perfect time as we prepare for conference play,” Marin Academy head coach Khalil Murphy said.