The St. John Bosco basketball team secured a narrow 57-55 victory over Harvard-Westlake in a thrilling matchup at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion on November 25, 2025. Senior forward Christian Collins played a pivotal role, scoring 36 points, with 25 of those coming in the second half.
The Braves, now boasting a 2-0 record, faced an uphill battle after trailing 30-22 at halftime. However, they surged back in the third quarter, launching a 14-2 run that shifted the momentum firmly in their favor. By the end of the quarter, St. John Bosco led 42-37.
Collins, a 6-foot-9 forward and an uncommitted five-star recruit, demonstrated his scoring prowess throughout the game. He single-handedly contributed 14 of the team’s 15 points in the fourth quarter, also securing six rebounds. His determination was evident as he stated, “I just really hate the feeling of losing. And my team does as well so we knew what we had to do.”
Coach Matt Dunn praised Collins, calling him a “game changer” and highlighting his critical performance in the closing moments.
Harvard-Westlake’s senior guard Joe Sterling, who has committed to Texas, struggled against the Braves’ defense. He missed a last-second attempt from beyond the arc as time expired, finishing the game with eight points. Collins emphasized their defensive strategy, saying, “Our game plan was really stopping him from getting the ball.”
The game started with back-and-forth scoring, as Tariq Iscandari put the Braves ahead with a three-pointer late in the first quarter. After a sluggish second quarter where St. John Bosco was outscored 17-10, they faced a significant deficit at halftime.
As the second half commenced, Collins ignited the offense, starting with a pair of free throws and a three-pointer by senior forward Max Ellis, narrowing the gap to 30-27. The momentum continued to build as Collins hit crucial shots, including a three-pointer that gave the Braves a brief lead at 34-32.
Ellis made an important contribution, finishing with nine points, including a buzzer-beater three-pointer that capped off a strong third quarter for St. John Bosco. “My shot wasn’t falling in the first half but I put in too much work to ever run out of confidence,” he said.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, Harvard-Westlake attempted to regain control, starting with a 5-1 run to cut the deficit to 43-42. Collins, however, responded with two consecutive three-pointers, extending the lead back to 49-44. The tension mounted as both teams exchanged baskets, culminating in a chaotic final minute where Harvard-Westlake took a brief lead at 55-54 with Amir Jones sinking three free throws.
In the closing moments, Collins was fouled while driving to the basket and calmly made both free throws, putting Bosco ahead 56-55. Gavin Dean-Moss, the Braves’ point guard, was also fouled and made one of two free throws to finalize the score at 57-55.
Looking ahead, Harvard-Westlake, now with a record of 1-1, will host Millikan on December 3, while St. John Bosco prepares to face San Diego Francis Parker. The thrilling encounter at Pauley Pavilion highlighted the resilience and talent of the Braves as they continue their early season success.
