Basketball Round-Up: Girls and Boys teams lose to San Gorgonio

Both teams open their Skyline league seasons with a loss to their toughest competition—boys lose 50-35, girls 41-27

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J. Dollins

Gabriel Aparicio and San G center Ryland Barre chase down the loose ball early in the game.

Colton, CA—This was not the way either the girls or boys basketball teams wanted to open up their Skyline league seasons.

Both varsity teams played the San Gorgonio Spartans tonight, the boys in Colton, the girls at San Gorgonio High in San Bernardino. For both teams, San Gorgonio presents the greatest challenge at taking the league title and an immediate CIF playoff bid. So facing their toughest competition right off the bat, both teams wanted to make a statement.

Instead of a statement, both posted losses. The boys lost to the Spartans 50-35, and the girls lost 41-27. And in a strange coincidence, both teams lost in very similar fashion.

 

Boys basketball (35) vs. San Gorgonio (50)

It seemed like the boys were ready for the opening tip. Patrick Angulo posted the first 5 points in the early minutes, giving Colton a 5-3 lead. But then Colton wouldn’t score again until Calvin Walewangko put in a layup with 5.3 seconds left in the first half.

San Gorgonio, led by senior center Ryland Barre, played an uptempo game. They ran a full-court press all game, which caused early problems for the Yellowjackets, whose offense is built around the steady set-ups of point guard Devin Torrez. Colton turned the ball over consistently against the press, or rushed shots and struggled to grab rebounds. Meanwhile, Barre and freshman guard Vincent Warsaw kept putting points up on the scoreboard. Colton found themselves trailing big at the half, 26-7.

After halftime, the Yellowjackets emerged a different team. They played with more composure, turned the ball over less, and started putting the ball in the hoop. Isaiah Stuart had a strong 3rd quarter showing with 8 points, as Colton closed the gap to 35-20.

In the fourth quarter, the Spartans struck back early, but Colton didn’t quit and got as close as 13 points. Torrez, who struggled from the field all night, finally hit a jumper late in the fourth. While Colton lost the game, they won the second half 28-24.

Patrick Angulo led the Yellowjackets with 11 points. Stuart finished with 8, and Josiah Diggs had 6.

The boys travel to Vista Del Lago High School in Moreno Valley tomorrow night.

Girls basketball (27) vs. San Gorgonio (41)

The Yellowjackets came out soft in the first quarter, coughing up 6 turnovers and scoring zero points as they found themselves in a 12-0 hole against their divisional rivals. It was hole they were never able to climb out of.

Savannah Govea and Brianna Ontiveros combined for 8 of the team’s 9 2nd quarter points to trail 21-9 at the half.

In the second half, the ladies came out fighting, and won the battle 21-20, but it was never enough to overcome that devastating first quarter.

There were moral victories to be had. Madison Prieto played tough defense all night, holding Spartan guard Jaylen Russell to 12 points after she put up 20 against Citrus Valley High on December 13.

Govea finished the game with 21 points, 4 steals, and a block shot. Ontiveros had 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals. Lia Tovar only had 1 point on a free throw, but pulled down 7 rebounds.

The lady Yellowjackets play their next game on December 30 against Perris High School at the Hubbs Gym. Game time will be noon.