Boys Basketball 2025-2026

Panthers Finish Regular Season Strong with 48–28 Senior Day Win Over Albany

Thursday, February 5, 2026 - Saint Mary’s closed out the regular season in style, defeating Albany 48–28 on Senior Day at Hagler Court, overcoming a slow start with strong defense and balanced scoring.

The Panthers opened the game sluggishly, scoring a season-low six points in the first quarter. Saint Mary’s found its rhythm in the second quarter, pouring in 19 points to take a 25–19 lead into halftime.

Both teams struggled to find offensive flow in the third quarter, with the Panthers scoring seven points and Albany adding eight. The turning point came in the fourth quarter, where Saint Mary’s defense took over, holding the Cougars to just one point while pulling away for the decisive 20-point victory.

Offensively, the Panthers were led by Kaethen Dennis, who finished with a team-high 12 points. Malakai Kelley and Donovan Mikel each contributed nine points, while CJ Baltrip added eight points as part of a balanced team effort.

With the win, Saint Mary’s wraps up the regular season with a 7–2 conference record and a 17–9 overall mark. The Panthers will enter the postseason as the #2 seed, earning a first-round bye.

Saint Mary’s will await the release of the conference bracket on Monday and will host their quarterfinal matchup Thursday on Hagler Court.

Panthers Battle #9 Amador Valley in Tough Non-League Matchup

Saturday, January, 3, 3025 - Fresh off a 3rd place finish at The Classic at Damien, the Saint Mary’s boys basketball team returned to the court to take on Amador Valley High School, ranked #9 in NCS. The Panthers looked to carry their momentum forward and prove they could compete with the top teams in the section and they did just that.

From the opening tip, Saint Mary’s showed they belonged. Sophomore Mathia Yonas provided an early spark, knocking down two big three-pointers off a stagger set drawn up by Coach Collins. Junior Donovan Mikel added six points in the opening quarter as the Panthers stayed within striking distance, trailing just 13–12 after one.

Offense was harder to come by in the second quarter, as Saint Mary’s scored just seven points. However, strong defensive effort kept Amador Valley from pulling away. At halftime, the Panthers remained firmly in the game, down 23–19.

The third quarter marked a turning point. Saint Mary’s erupted offensively, scoring 22 points in the period while holding Amador Valley to 17. The surge gave the Panthers a narrow 41–40 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The final period featured a back-and-forth battle, with eight lead changes in the quarter alone. With the game hanging in the balance, Amador Valley capitalized on a missed defensive rotation, hitting a wide-open three with 14 seconds remaining. Saint Mary’s had one last look but was unable to convert as time expired.

Final Score: Amador Valley 57, Saint Mary’s 54

Top Performers:

• Donovan Mikel — 14 points

• Malakai Kelly — 12 points

• CJ Baltrip — 11 points

Despite the tough loss, the Panthers showed resilience and the ability to compete with one of the top teams in NCS. Saint Mary’s now turns its focus to league play, as the Panthers open TCAL action on Thursday at home against Bethel.

Saint Mary's Boys Basketball Takes 3rd Place at the Classic at Damien (3-1 Finish)

December 26th - 31st - The Saint Mary’s boys basketball team delivered an impressive showing at The Classic at Damien, finishing the tournament 3–1 with victories over Santiago, Granada, and Valencia, and earning 3rd place overall. The Panthers competed with toughness, depth, and resilience throughout the four-game stretch.

Game 1: Panthers Set the Tone vs. Santiago

Saint Mary’s opened the Damien Classic against a formidable Santiago High School squad that entered the tournament with a 13–1 record. From the opening tip, the Panthers applied relentless defensive pressure and controlled the paint on both ends of the floor.

The defensive intensity fueled transition opportunities and consistent inside scoring, allowing Saint Mary’s to pull away late.

Final Score: Saint Mary’s 67, Santiago 57
Top Performer:

• CJ Baltrip — 25 points

Game 2: Panthers Rally Past Granada in a Thriller

Night two brought one of the most exciting games of the tournament. Saint Mary’s trailed Granada through three quarters but never lost composure. The Panthers battled back to tie the game at 47–47, then seized the lead and held on down the stretch.

Balanced scoring and timely plays proved to be the difference in a hard-fought contest.

Final Score: Saint Mary’s 63, Granada 62
Top Performers:

• CJ Baltrip — 21 points

• Donovan Mikel — 19 points

• Malakai Kelly — 11 points

Game 3: Panthers Fall to Alameda

Riding a two-game win streak, Saint Mary’s faced Alameda in their third contest. The Panthers competed early, trailing just 14–12 after the first quarter and taking a 26–24 lead into halftime after strong second-quarter runs.

In the second half, Alameda capitalized on transition opportunities as Saint Mary’s struggled to slow the ball. Despite staying close through three quarters, Alameda pulled away in the fourth.

Final Score: Alameda 65, Saint Mary’s 49
Top Performers:

• Malakai Kelly — 17 points

• CJ Baltrip  — 16 points

• Jonas Mar — 8 points

3rd Place Game: Panthers Finish Strong vs. Valencia

With a 3rd place finish on the line, Saint Mary’s responded with poise and control against Valencia. The Panthers dictated tempo from the opening tip and carried a five-point lead into halftime.

In the second half, Saint Mary’s pulled away behind strong team play and balanced scoring, securing the tournament’s 3rd place trophy.

Final Score: Saint Mary’s 63, Valencia 53
Top Performers:

• Donovan Mikel — 23 points

• CJ Baltrip — 20 points

• Malakai Kelly — 12 points

Tournament Recap

• Overall Record: 3–1

• Wins: Santiago, Granada, Valencia

• Finish: 🥉 3rd Place at The Classic at Damien

The Panthers showcased grit, depth, and growth throughout the tournament. With strong leadership from seniors and impactful performances from underclassmen, Saint Mary’s continues to build momentum as the season moves forward.

Panthers Tested by Division I Power Clayton Valley

Saturday, December 6, 2025 - Saint Mary’s faced one of its toughest early-season challenges in a non-league matchup against the Clayton Valley Eagles, a Division I program that reached the NCS Championship last season. The Eagles’ disciplined attack and defensive pressure gave the Panthers problems from the opening tip.

Clayton Valley forced Saint Mary’s into constant scrambling on defense, making them defend deep into the shot clock on nearly every possession. Second-chance opportunities and turnovers turned into repeated scoring chances for the Eagles, who capitalized with timely three-pointers and transition points.

Offensively, the Panthers struggled to establish their rhythm. Clayton Valley neutralized Saint Mary’s interior attack, disrupting high–low actions and limiting touches in the paint. Without their usual post presence, scoring opportunities became difficult to find.

Saint Mary’s was held to a season-low 27 points. Junior Donovan Mikel was the only Panther in double figures with 10 points. Malakai Kelly finished with 9, and CJ Baltrip added 6.

The Panthers now turn their attention to tournament play as they travel to compete in the Gridley Invitational, opening against Dublin High School. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM at Gridley High School.

Panthers Finish Christian Brothers Classic with Strong Win Over St. Joseph-Notre Dame

Saturday, November 29, 2025 - Saint Mary’s capped off its final game of the Christian Brothers Classic with a convincing performance, defeating the Pilots of St. Joseph-Notre Dame. The game opened with the Pilots jumping out to a quick 5–0 lead, but once the Panthers adjusted to the size mismatch inside, momentum quickly shifted. Saint Mary’s attacked the post, dominated second-chance opportunities, and seized control of the opening quarter.

Freshman Ellijah McDaniels provided a major spark from the perimeter, knocking down two key three-pointers to keep the Pilots from packing the paint. Junior Miles Woods contributed early around the rim with two putbacks, while senior CJ Baltrip paced all scorers in the first quarter with seven points. The Panthers closed the opening period with a strong 24–12 lead.

Both teams found rhythm in the second quarter, with the Pilots scoring 16 and Saint Mary’s adding 14 to carry a 40–26 lead into halftime. However, the Panthers came out flat in the third, allowing St. Joseph-Notre Dame to cut the lead to six. A late-quarter surge helped Saint Mary’s regain control and maintain separation heading into the fourth.

The Panthers played composed basketball in the final period, maintaining a comfortable 20-point margin for most of the quarter and finishing the Classic on a high note. Three players scored in double figures, including standout performances from juniors Miles Woods and Malakai Kelly, who each contributed 15 points. Senior CJ Baltrip led all scorers with an impressive 21.

Next up, Saint Mary’s travels to San Leandro High School to take on Clayton Valley in the NorCal Ultimate Challenge. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.

Panthers Open Season With Strong Home Victory Over Ygnacio Valley

Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - The Saint Mary’s boys basketball team kicked off their home opener in impressive fashion, defeating the Wolves of Ygnacio Valley High School, 72–54. Although the Panthers got off to a slow start, their defensive pressure quickly shifted the momentum. Turnovers created by relentless on-ball pressure allowed Saint Mary’s to control the tempo and gradually pull away, sealing the win with a dominant fourth quarter.

Saint Mary’s showcased balanced scoring throughout the night, with four Panthers finishing in double digits. Junior Malakai Kelly and senior CJ Baltrib led the way with 13 points apiece. Junior Miles Woods and freshman standout Marcellus Collins each added 10 points, providing a steady offensive presence.

The Panthers’ depth also played a key role, with sophomore Monty Yonas contributing 9 points and junior Donovan Mikel adding 8 in the victory.

With the season now officially underway, the Panthers turn their attention to their next challenge. Saint Mary’s will face Saint Joseph–Notre Dame this Saturday at De La Salle as part of the Christian Brother Classic.