The stands were filled in the MVHS gym for the 6:30 pm boys’ basketball game as a part of the Monta Vista Holiday Tournament. But instead of the faithful purple and gold, players saw an overwhelming amount of blue, in a crowd dominated by Bellarmine’s supporters. Although the Matadors were at home, they already felt out of place.

Coming off a disappointing fourth quarter meltdown against the Los Altos Eagles, the Matadors hoped to rebound with a solid performance in the next game of the tournament against Bellarmine College Preparatory.

The Matadors discomfort was evident from the moment the game started as junior Golan Gingold turned the ball over on their first possession, resulting in an easy lay-up for the Bells. The Matadors lacked offensive flow for much of the first half, with a 9-0 start and eventually a 25 point deficit.

However, the Matadors offense was sparked by junior Ashween Manimaran, who scored six straight points in the third quarter, finishing with 16 in the game. His play on the offensive end gave the Matadors the motivation to clamp down on defense, and the Bells’ heavy attention on Manimaran left other players, including seniors Andy Wang and Ashish Keshan, open for three- point shots.

With the help of Manimaran and several other Matadors, the team cut the deficit to single digits. Despite the Matadors’ momentum, the Bells executed a three-point play to bring their lead back to double digits in the final minutes. The Bells’ late points sealed the game in their favor and they won the game with a final score of 64-54.

The Matadors will play their first home league game this Friday, Jan. 9 at 7:00p.m. against Santa Clara HS.

Story and photos by Pranav Iyer and Aditya Pimplaskar