Habits can be tough to break. Ask anybody, especially the Carlmont basketball team.

Despite outscoring Menlo-Atherton High School Bears 16-4 in the third quarter and a 19 point performance by junior Michael Costello, Carlmont wasn’t able to get the victory against M-A.

With 15 seconds left in the game, Carlmont’s senior Hector Prado drove into the paint, drew a foul, and made a layup, scoring a three-point play.

Down by two points, Carlmont had to foul a M-A player. Too bad that player happened to be senior Jamar Gaddis.

Gaddis sank both free throws to make it a four-point game. Carlmont seniors Mduduzi Hlatshwayo and Prado shot a desperation three, but neither went in, as the game finished 38-34.

After the game, Carlmont coach David Low stated, “We have a habit of not playing well for the first half that we need to fix now.”

Carlmont was atrocious in the first sixteen minutes, scoring just 14 points, compared to M-A’s 23. In addition, 12 of the 14 points were scored by Costello.

On the other hand, M-A’s attack was more balanced, as seven players scored in the first half.

Even though Carlmont took the lead in the third quarter, along with all the momentum, the  Bears slowly clawed their way back into the game, as a pair of Gaddis free throws sealed the game.

Carlmont (14-2, 3-1) will try to redeem themselves against Burlingame next week on Jan 23. Meanwhile, M-A (5-10, 1-2) will try to string a few more wins together with a tough test against Aragon on Jan 23.