2004 Season Wrap Up

When was the last time Galileo's frosh/soph boys basketball team reached the playoffs? Not many remember. Perhaps it was the 1993 team that lost to Lowell in the championship. Now we can add the 2004 team into that list. Though the playoff was brief, this year's team accomplished much. With 3 sophomores and 10 freshmen, this team exceeded expectations. A final record of 14-6 included: a third place finish at the Liberty High Tournament, 5 20+ point victories, 2 losses by 1 point, and 3.3 points were the average in 6 losses.

Most Inspirational Player: Stephen Tee
Best Offensive Player: D'eAnte Bernstine
Best Defensive Player: Brandon Fong
Most Improved Player: Romell Sunga
Sixth Man Award: Antouine Carter

2nd Quarter Hole Dug too Deep in Playoff Loss

Feb. 11, 2004 @ Lincoln_Stephen Tee's 9 points all came in the first quarter as Galileo took an impressive 18-13 lead. However, Lincoln limited the lions to 2 second quarter points while putting together 19 of their own. Down 15 in the third, Galileo's relentless full court man defense clawed back to 4 with a few minutes left in the fourth. Shackled with 3 fouls in the first quarter, D'eAnte Bernstine who sat out the second and half of the third, came in and exploded for 14 points, 8 in the fourth quarter. Bernstine finished with 16 points.

The mustangs earned their ticket to the championship by sinking 12 of 13 free throws in the fourth to keep Galileo at a 6-point distance. When the buzzer sounded, Galileo's run was 6-points short, giving Lincoln a 60-54 win. CJ Hoper led the mustangs with 19 points. Lincoln would fall to Lowell by 5 in the championship.

Brandon Fong led the lions with 7 boards and Manish Amin led the assists column with 4.

A First for Coach: Lions Clinch Playoff Spot

Feb. 3, 2004 @ Washington_Washington was looking for a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, what they received in the overtime win was a tie for second place and possibly a shot at the #1 seed if they beat 7-1 Lowell this Friday. Though Galileo suffered their second AAA loss, at 7-2, they've clinched a playoff berth for the first time in Coach Huynh's 4-year reign. With a win at Marshall Friday and a Washington loss, Galileo will gain the #2 seed and a home playoff game. If Washington wins, there will be 4 teams tied with a 7-2 record.

Lions Get Scare But Improves to 6-1 (13-3)

Jan. 29, 2004 @ Galileo_Second place Galileo took an emphatic 18-7 lead after the first quarter and a 13-point half time lead. D'eAnte Bernstine dominated the post for 12 first half points and added 8 more in the second for a 20 point-13 rebound performance.

Despite a sizeable lead, Galileo would squander it all away on some errant passes; the young lions gave up 26 turnovers as a team. As Balboa converted Galileo turnovers into points, Galileo shot 1 for 9 on the freethrow line down the stretch. 26 turnovers and 1 for 9 would suggest a loss but the resilient lions fought their way to victory behind Bobby Clark's 9 fourth quarter points.

Note: 6 Galileo players talliled 3 turnovers or more. Starter, Stephen Tee fouled out early with 4 points. Another sophomore, Innocent Ekeh scored 2 points in his debut at Galileo, stepping onto the court for the first time. Galileo lost a 40-45 nailbiter at Lowell, then dominated Lincoln at Lincoln before beating Balboa for a 6-1 record. Galileo can clinch a playoff spot by beating Washington at Washington next tuesday.

Galileo Routs Burton: 4-0 (11-2)

Jan. 16, 2004 @ Galileo_In a physical up tempo matchup, Galileo took a 4-point first quarter lead, 18-14, on Bobby Clark's solid 8 points, a perfect 6 of 6 on the line. Clark finished with 13 points, sinking 9 of 10 free throws. Leading by 9 at the half, Galileo did not put Burton away until the fourth quarter when Antouine Carter (6 rebs), Manish Amin (6 rebs) and Brandon Fong (5 pts, 8 rebs) cranked up the lions defense to another level; Carter, Amin and Fong collected 3 steals each. Galileo limited the pumas to single digits in the last three quarters; 8, 7, and 5.

D'eAnte Bernstine's 14 points and 18 rebounds were both game-highs.

Note: Galileo improved to 3-0 after defeating ISA on Monday, January 12th. Stephen Tee's 16 points led the lions to a 52-31 win.

2-0 After 2 for Young Cubs

Jan. 9, 2004 @ Galileo_Game 2 in the regular season was another test for the previously 7-2 young cubs as Wallenberg strolled into the "G" after dropping their opener to Burton by 2. The bulldogs jumped out early but Galilleo tied it at 9 apiece after the first quarter. Each time Galileo put together a run, Wallenberg would answer to pull within 3. The biggest lead of the night came when Galileo's pressure "D" took advantage of bulldog turnovers to build an 7-point cushion in the third quarter, however, Wallenberg made a run to draw within 3 again going into the fourth.

Stephen Tee led an offensive charge with 5 quick points in the fourth and Brandon Fong (6 pts, 3 rebs, 3 stls) rallied the full court press with fellow freshman, Danny Huang, to limit Wallenberg to 3 fourth quarter baskets. DeAndre Demisse and Antouine Carter came off the bench to put away the game with 3 and 6 steals each. Demisse also collected 6 rebounds and 8 points. Tee finished with a team-high 14 points, his season high and 6 steals. As a team Galileo totaled 26 steals.

Post-player, D'eAnte Bernstine controlled the boards enroute to a double-double, 10 rebounds and 12 points. In the opener against O'Connell, Bernstine tallied 20 points and 12 rebounds to help Galileo jump out to a perfect start.

Lions Nip Terra Nova to finish 6-2 Pre-season

Dec. 16, 2003 @ Terra Nova_With two starters (Stephen Tee, Bobby Clark) benched in the first half for disciplinary reasons, Galileo's reserves played a great half that led to a 4-point lead with two minutes remaining in the fourth. Then Galileo allowed Terra Nova two quick baskets to tie the game in which Galileo had led since the first quarter. Bobby Clark answered with a 15-footer to put the lions back on top by 2. Two missed shots by Terra Nova in the last minute gave DeAndre Demissed 4 free throws to extend Galileo's lead to 6. A desperation 3 by Terra Nova made it a 3-point game as time expired giving Galileo a 42-39 victory.

Freshman swingman, DeAntouine Carter played his best game of the season; despite a sore ankle, Carter finished with 7 points and pulled down crucial rebounds. Manish Amin held the lions together in the first half, scoring 5 of Galileo 7 points as Terra Nova raced out to 11 first quarter points.

Galileo finished the preseason with a 6-2 mark, averaging a 24-point margin in all their victories while losing two games by a combined point total of 8 points.

Galileo 64 - San Rafael JV 46

Dec. 15, 2003 @ San Rafael_After waiting 2 and half hours for a game that was changed from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM, Galileo took off running against San Rafael's JV team in the second quarter, 18-9. Up by 2 at the end of the first quarter, the young lions blasted the Dawgs with their defensive press. Sophomore point guard, DeAndre Demisse who finished with 17 points, scored 9 in the second quarter while freshman sharpshooter, Bobby Clark added 4. Antonio Sanidad's 8 points in the fourth quarter gave him a season high of 10.

Third Place in Liberty Tourny

Galileo (4-1) topped Washington of Fremont, 53-31, to cap a 3-day tournament in Brentwood's Liberty High School for third place. Freshmen, D'eAnte Bernstine and Bobby Clark led the way with 11 and 9 points apiece.

After limiting Granada to 11 second half points a night earlier, Galileo came out sluggish in the quarter-finals against a College Park team that had just beaten the host team (Liberty). Down 10 points in the third quarter, Galileo put together a run behind their full-court press to claim the lead for the first time, 37-36. However, clutch plays by Granada and missed freethrows and missed shots allowed Granada to escape with a 4-point victory, 44-40.

Frosh/Soph Boys Hoop Dreams Freshmen Filled

DeAnte Bernstine, Bobby Clark and Stephen Tee scored 6 points apiece as Galileo fell in the alumni game, 51-33. Phuong Hong and brother, Eddie Hong had 18 points each to lead the alumni's to an impressive 15-8 fourth quarter run. With 5 players only, the alumni's were able to maintain their running game for all four quarters.

With 4 points (all by Tee) in the second quarter to the alumni's 11, the young lions watched the chasm grow bigger as turnovers turned into easy alumni points, putting the game out of reach.

Frosh/Soph Boys Hoop Dreams Freshmen Filled

Returning sophomore, Stephen Tee stands alone in the midst of a young squad with 12 freshmen. First year sophomore point guard, Manish Amin who did not play last season will be a great compliment to Tee's running game. If Mac Tago, another starter from last year, returns to fill the inside void, Tee will look to bomb away from the outside. Actually, there will be much running and gunning from the make up of things; freshmen sensations, Bobby Clark, Brandon Fong, Danny Huang are not trigger-shy. Impressive inside and out, two more freshmen, Deante Bernstine and Deshawn Jose will look to roam the paint. With a deep bench, these young lions have enough talent to make the playoffs provided that they keep their grades and the team intact.