With top scorer and rebounder RJ Miller in a cast with a broken left foot and his team mourning the death of teammate Adein Lea’e’s father, Madison High School boys basketball coach Mike Stutz didn’t know what to expect Tuesday.
“This is a senior group, but they’re still kids,” Stutz said before Tuesday’s Eastern League game with Point Loma. “I don’t know how we’ll respond. I fear a trap game.”
What Stutz got was a strong second-half effort that led to a 67-49 win. It was the second win of the season over the Pointers for Madison (14-3, 2-0), which beat Point Loma (11-6, 0-2) 66-48 in a tournament in December.
“Without JR, we all take on new roles,” said Madison’s Tristen Moore, who finished with 18 points and five rebounds. “My job is to bring energy, keep us rolling.”
Eli Stevens led all scorers with 23 points, including 15 in the second half.
“Without JR (who the Warhawks hope to have back for the playoffs), our jobs are to pass, cut, hit the open man and talk on defense,” Stevens said. “We all need to step up a little, pick up the slack.”
Stevens said the loss of Lea’e’s father hit the team hard.
“He’s one of our teammates, so we were playing for him and his family,” Stevens said. “He’d want it that way.”
The seventh-ranked Warhawks led by 11 midway through the second quarter, but Point Loma went on a 13-2 run to tie it at 26 heading into halftime despite turning the ball over 14 times in the first half, nine coming in the second quarter.
Moore and Stevens both had seven points in the third quarter as Madison outscored Point Loma 19-12. A seven-point lead grew to 23 late in the game.
“We got after it on defense pretty good,” Stutz said of a team that forced 24 Point Loma turnovers. “And we took care of the ball pretty well (turning it over just 11 times).
“And we hit the glass hard.”
Madison’s Eli Stevens #5 goes up for a shot against Point Loma’s Myles Caldwell #0 during their game at Madison High School on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Madison outrebounded Point Loma 36-24, with Stevens grabbing seven and Moore five. Caleb Gleason had eight points and seven rebounds for the Warhawks while Braylon Lucas finished with 12 points — eight in the fourth quarter — and seven rebounds.
Jax Marple paced Point Loma with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Na’Sean Hardy added 12 points and six rebounds. Leo Ramenofsky had seven rebounds.
“This is a team with a lot of seniors,” Stevens said. “We were pretty good last year (finishing 22-7).
“If we’re all healthy, this could be our year.”