Taking the heat

The Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association Raptors (pictured) are gold division champs. The seventh- and eighth-grade boys defeated the Heat at the Don Coleman Community Coliseum, 52-45. It was a tough game, but the Raptors won by relying on their strengths: teamwork, contributions from all players, and tough defense. The road to the playoffs began with an 11-2-1 record in the regular season. Despite several boys being injured and out for some of the regular-season games, the whole group was back for the playoffs and championship game. The winning Raptors are (top row, from left) coach Alex Cestero, William Wu, Dominic Cestero, Chance Thalmann; (second row, from left) Sultan Evans, Ethan Kling, Alex Krenz, Nathan Yuan, assistant coach Patrick Evans; (bottom row, from left) Tucker Torn, Joshua Cestero and Will Bone; not pictured: assistant coach Marcus Thalmann. 

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