Rubidoux ends Yellowjackets win streak

Team takes first loss of the season as a learning opportunity; Devin Torrez scores 15, Valencia 12 as Colton drops to 5-1

Devin+Torrez+scores+3+of+his+15+points+during+the+4th+quarter+of+the+Yellowjackets+loss+to+Rubidoux%2C+66-48.

Anna Garcia

Devin Torrez scores 3 of his 15 points during the 4th quarter of the Yellowjackets loss to Rubidoux, 66-48.

Colton, CA—After defeating Coachella Valley on the road Thursday, Colton’s boys basketball team entered Friday’s game against Rubidoux on a five game winning streak. They met their match against the Falcons, losing their first game of the season 66-48.

Devin Torrez led the Yellowjackets with 15 points, scoring 10 in the 2nd quarter. Aaron Valencia finished with 12 points, Josiah Diggs with 6, and both Isaiah Stuart and Patrick Angulo added 4 points each.

The team came out slow from the start, scoring only 10 points in the 1st quarter while surrendering 17 to the Falcons. Torrez came alive in the 2nd quarter, but the Falcons extended their halftime lead to 35-23.

In the 3rd, the Falcons defense held the Yellowjackets to 6 points. Colton fought back in the 4th, winning the quarter 19-18, with Torrez scoring 5, Valencia 4, and Angulo 4, but it wasn’t enough to make a dent in the Falcon’s lead.

After the game, Torrez was undeterred. “I feel like we learn from our mistakes, so we will be more prepared for next time,” he said. He also shouldered much of the responsibility for the team’s struggles against the Falcons. “I just have to make better reads on the court as I have been trying since the start of the season.” 

Coach Kendrick Ayres also took the loss as a big learning experience. “We are still the same team we have been for the first 5 games, but tonight we paid for our mistakes.” The loss also didn’t stop him from seeing the growth in his team. ”Learning and growing, I actually saw a lot of improvements in our team tonight.”

Junior Aaron Valencia was also confident in the aftermath of the loss saying that it ”feels unreal coming off a 5 win streak, but this loss at the end of the day was a heartfelt game. We’re gonna just get better off it.” 

Colton now holds a 5-1 record. Their next two games will be away against AB Miller on Dec 5, 5:30 p.m. and Western Christian on Dec 6 at 5:30 p.m.

 

Notes:

Girls varsity basketball traveled to Rubidoux High School to play the Falcons, and lost 66-39. Savannah Govea had 22 points for the Yellowjackets, with Lia Tovar contributing 9 in the loss.