Joel Branstrom, a 1992 graduate of Half Moon Bay High School, recently sank a half-court shot, blindfolded, during an assembly at Olathe Northwest High School in Kansas, where he coaches girls’ basketball and teaches biology.
It wasn’t supposed to happen that way. Everyone, Branstrom included, figured he was sure to miss the shot. Students planned to storm the court anyway, celebrating as if he made it. Branstrom was told a winning shot would win him tickets to the Final Four NCAA basketball games.
 Joel Branstrom is all smiles as he awaits an interview with ESPN. It was one of many interviews the 1992 Half Moon Bay High School graduate did after sinking a half-court shot, blindfolded, at an assembly at Olathe Northwest High School. Branstrom teaches biology and coaches the girls'€™ basketball team. Photo courtesy Devon Boyce, The Raven'€™s Beak |
After a textbook shot ripped the cords, he traded a few high-fives and waved to the crowd, as if he made the shot ... which he did.
Branstrom wasn’t aware he made the shot, until he saw a replay moments later.
The video was quickly uploaded on Youtube.com last week. Hundreds of thousands have now seen the shot online.
Branstrom spent the week shuttling between television talk show appearances.
Despite all that, he remained as humble last week as he was when he led the Cougars to their first North Peninsula League basketball title in 1992.
“He was a good athlete who worked hard and played hard,” said classmate Keith Holden. “He was a solid guy. He took every practice serious.”
However, practice didn’t include half-court shots.
“He was a post player, standing about 6-6,” said David Nutting, Half Moon Bay’s coach from the late 1980s to the late ’90s. “In his senior year, he made about 70 percent of his shots, mostly from the post.”
Following graduation from Half Moon Bay, he attended Cañada College for two years, helping the Colts to top 10 rankings in the state. He transferred to the University of Kansas, where he walked on for the nationally ranked Division I team.
He graduated from Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in 1997, and earned a master’s in 2001. Married with four children, he was hired as a biology teacher and the girls’ basketball coach when Olathe Northwest opened up several years ago.
Branstrom was already a name in the Kansas high school girls’ basketball coaching fraternity when the Ravens won the substate title last year. But that’s nothing compared to this year, thanks to the shot.
“The student body and the staff have been very supportive,” Branstrom said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal.”
To think, his basketball career started in the fifth grade, when he and two teammates, Gabe Glynn and Mabon Sofer, practiced half-court shots while playing in their first year of basketball for the Our Lady of the Pillar team.
His father, Marv, coached the team. A science teacher at Cañada College, the elder Branstrom still holds the single game and career record for rebounds at San Jose State University.
Though established in Kansas, part of his heart is still with Half Moon Bay. Another high school friend, high school Athletic Director Matt Ballard, sent him the 2005 football highlight tape. Half Moon Bay won its first Central Coast Section football title that year.
“I get a little teary eyed when I watch that tape,” Branstrom said. “I am very proud of that team.”
Branstrom and his family will be attending the Final Four in Indianapolis this year, thanks to the NCAA. He got other offers, which he had to turn down.
“The story has brought a lot of smiles to people,” Branstrom said. “It’s good to give the people some positive news.”
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