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Terra Linda’s Evan Brewster grabs a rebound during their MCAL boys basketball game against San Marin in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.
Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Terra Linda’s Bennett Kayser, left, defends against San Marin’s Rio Seiler during their MCAL boys basketball game in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, Jan.
31, 2025. Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Terra Linda’s Pele Love defends as San Marin’s Grant Means heads down the court during their MCAL boys basketball game in San Rafael, Calif.
on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44.
(Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Terra Linda’s Evan Brewster grabs a rebound during their MCAL boys basketball game against San Marin in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.
Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) San Marin’s Kellen Dunning defends as Terra Linda’s Chase Addleman tries to drive to the basket during their MCAL boys basketball game in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, Jan.
31, 2025. Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) San Marin’s Miller Morgan looks to get by Terra Linda defender Chase Addleman during their MCAL boys basketball game in San Rafael, Calif.
on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44.
(Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Terra Linda’s Kaden Martin, left, knocks the ball away from San Marin’s Andrew Keehn during their MCAL boys basketball game in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.
Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Evan Brewster of Terra Linda defender as San Marin’s Jason Gillen takes a shot during their MCAL boys basketball game in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, Jan.
31, 2025. Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) San Marin’s Grant Means drives to the basket during their MCAL boys basketball game against Terra Linda in San Rafael, Calif.
on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44.
(Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Terra Linda’s Calvin Albrecht makes a blind pass to teammate Evan Brewster during their MCAL boys basketball game in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.
Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Terra Linda’s Evan Brewster grabs a rebound during their MCAL boys basketball game against San Marin in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, Jan.
31, 2025. Terra Linda defeated San Marin 51-44. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) The last time the Terra Linda High boys basketball team made the MCAL playoffs, most of the current players were still toddlers.
The Trojans, who last made the league’s postseason tournament in 2011, punched their ticket after holding off a San Marin rally for a 51-44 home victory on Friday night. “It’s crazy,” TL forward Bennett Kayser said. “Starting when I came here in my freshman year, we were in a huge rebuild.
The last couple of years we had mediocre seasons. We had a couple of good moments but I feel like building up to this year we all really knew we could do something really special so being able to witness something that hasn’t happened in like 15 years is really cool to see.” Kayser played a huge role in Terra Linda’s victory, scoring eight of his game-high 18 points to start the third quarter and push TL’s lead from 23-19 to 31-19.
Kayser, who also had 12 rebounds, scored on offensive putbacks on three consecutive possessions to help TL (16-7, 4-2 MCAL) gain some separation. “(Kayser) just really gave us a big momentum boost when he played with that energy,” TL center Evan Brewster said. “Everyone just brought their energy up to match him and play with him.
He was a really big key to our win.” TL held San Marin (11-11, 2-4) to five points in the second quarter and shut the Mustangs out for the first four minutes of the third quarter, going on a 21-5 run during that stretch. “We know they like to shoot so we tried to jump them off the (3-point) line and make them attack where I could get blocks and rebound if they miss,” said Brewster, who had 14 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks, and three assists.
San Marin knocked down a pair of 3-pointers by Grant Means (team-high 14 points) and Jason Gullen late in the third quarter to pull within 39-29 heading into the final frame. Miller Morgan (10 points) knocked down another 3-pointer to make it an eight-point game with about 3 minutes to play. The Mustangs turned up the intensity of their full-court press and pulled within 46-43 with 1:23 left to play on a steal and a breakaway layup by JD Rhodes.
“We got comfortable, which is an Achilles heel for a team that is ahead by so much that you think it’s a sure win,” TL coach James Baker said. “After I called a timeout, we buckled down and decided, you know what, we have to keep them at bay. We have the lead so control the tempo.
” San Marin committed a string of fouls to get TL into the bonus but Evan Brewster stepped up to the free-throw line with 45.2 seconds left and made both to push the lead to 48-43 and ensure San Marin never got an opportunity to tie the game. “I’ve been in situations before when I’ve needed to make free throws to either seal [a win] or tie and I’ve missed,” Brewster said.
“I hated that feeling so I was like I don’t want to feel that way again. I took my time, took deep breaths, and despite being tired I knew that I’ve practiced them and I can knock them down.” San Marin came back down the court trying to stay in the game but turned the ball over.
Kayser scooped up the loose ball and passed it ahead to Pele Love (seven points) for a lay-up with about 30 seconds to play that all but put the game away. “I was just getting back on defense and I just kind of see the ball – it came off his knee,” Kayser said. “I didn’t really have anything to do with stripping the ball but it came right to me.
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I was thinking time’s running out. If I can get the ball to the front side of the court then that could really seal the deal.” Chase Addleman had 10 points for TL, which is in a logjam of two-loss teams in MCAL play with Branson, Marin Catholic, and Archie Williams.
TL, which last made the MCAL postseason when Michael Best was a senior in 2011, could still host a playoff game – something it hasn’t done since the 2010 team with Kenny Woodard and Christian Manoli made it to the MCAL title game. “This [win] made a huge difference whether or not we couple possibly get an opportunity to host an MCAL playoff game, which hasn’t been done at Terra Linda in maybe over a decade,” Baker said. If the Trojans can secure wins in their final two games against Branson and San Rafael next week, they could potentially be seeded second and get a first-round bye if some other results go their way.
San Marin sits in a tie for the sixth and final playoff spot with San Rafael. The Mustangs face the Bulldogs in a crucial game on Tuesday at Dominican University before closing the season by hosting Novato on Thursday..
