Braccia and Bala Lead Sacred Heart Prep to Rare Triple Crown in Boys Basketball
Pictured: Luke Braccia
4 Minute read
By Andrea Aruino
Senior Luke Braccia, Sophomore Pat Bala, and the Sacred Heart Prep (SHP) Boys Basketball Team are this year’s CIF State Division IV champions. The two point guards were fundamental players in the team’s ability to secure the program’s first ever state championship. Before being crowned the State Champions, they won the Central Coast Section (CCS) Division IV Championship, and CIF NorCal Division IV Championship. The Gators finished off the season 21-11 with an 11 game winning streak before winning it all. Braccia and Bala have cemented their place in SHP history, leading one of the most remarkable postseason runs the program has ever seen while helping deliver a rare three-title sweep in a single season.
In the CIF State Division IV Championship, the SHP Gators faced the San Juan Hills Stallions who had a record of 21-15 coming into the game. Although the Gators held the lead for most of the game, the Stallions did not give this game away easily. Going into the half the Gators went on a 6-2 run to close the half with a lead of 28-19. The final two quarters were a test of everything the team had built throughout the season, demanding they execute the hard work that got them to that moment.
In the final quarter, the Gators held the Stallions to just 12 points while they scored 25. With 1:50 left on the clock, down 45-41, senior point guard Alex Osterloh hit a two-pointer before getting a steal and going on a fast break which led to two game-tying free throws. With 0.7 seconds left on the clock, Osterloh was fouled at the three point line giving them the final advantage to take it all at 53-51. Bala contributed the second most points that night with 13.
Pat Bala shooting free throws during the CIF State Division IV champions
“We played a really strong team. We were basically just trying to play as hard as we could, which was the biggest thing. We were eliminating shots for number 24 (Rocco Jensen), who is very talented but luckily I think we held him to eight points at the end of the game, Bala said.
“Defense, guarding hard, and disrupting their offense got us the win because we weren’t shooting that well. We ended up coming back and taking that win, which is huge for us in the school.”
Before reaching the State championship, SHP proved its strength early with a CCS Division IV title, knocking off the No. 2 seed Half Moon Bay Cougars, 71–64, in overtime. The two teams met again in the CIF NorCal Division IV championship, where Osterloh once more delivered in the clutch, sinking two free throws with just 0.7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to secure a 53–51 victory.
“It was special. I think at the Varsity Level, I hadn't really experienced that kind of success or yet being able to win those consecutive games where you either survive and advance or you go home. Doing that with the team was super special and it really felt like we earned them. There’s no better way I could think of ending my last season here,” Braccia said.
Pictured: Pat Bala
Bala began this season as a starter who had to step down from that role to focus on strengthening the skills his coach wanted to see. The sophomore point guard knew where his strengths and weaknesses were. Instead of focusing on the amount of playing time he got, he focused on the mental side of basketball by creating his own luck, something that he and Coach Packie Turner worked on extensively. This allowed him to focus on controllables and contributing to the team as much as he could whether that be through rebounds, getting stops, or bringing the energy. Bala is committed to bringing this energy into his junior season to bring an even higher impact to the team.
“Packie, that's my guy. I think in our workouts, the biggest thing that I'm taking away is how he thinks and he'll share stories from what he was like when he was a player he'll give great advice. For example he was the one who taught me how to create my own luck by doing the little things like getting rebounds,” Bala said.
Luke Braccia defending Dallas Wings Guard Haley Jones during an UPBasketball workout
As for Braccia, his fairytale ending came to fruition and can proudly hang up his jersey. Despite SHP’s rocky start with a record of 10-11 to begin the season, Braccia never lost hope. His biggest takeaway from this season was him and his team’s ability to come back from adversities. He acknowledges the leadership that he and the senior class brought in order to get the team to get them to that point.
“I think beyond our historical season, I’ll always remember the people and friends that I made. Especially the people in my class that really drove to make the team as good as it was for our last season, ” Braccia said.
The Sacred Heart Prep boys basketball team achieved what many players never accomplish in their entire high school careers. Together, they won three championships in one season. The first time since the 1992 Palma Highschool boys team achieved the rare triple crown. They hope to bring this intensity and humility into the 2026-2027 season. Congratulations again to the SHP Boys Basketball Team!
