Granite girls knock off Porterville

It took a good part of the season, but it looks like the Granite Hills basketball team has found the chemistry it’s been searching for all year. And for Granite, of course, it couldn’t have come at a sweeter time — against its crosstown rival, Porterville.

Any time the Grizzlies can knock off the Panthers it’s always special and Granite did just that at home on Friday, beating PHS 54-41. Led by Ashlee Halopoff, Yo Sasarith and Elena Galvez, the Grizzlies (2-4 in the East Yosemite League) led by as many as 25 points on their way to the win.

“That was a good win for us,” Granite Hills coach Shelly Lozano said. “We needed that. Just good teamwork. We played together. I think we’re improving.”

Halopoff scored 21 points and Sasarith and Galvez each added 12 points for Granite. “She played her best game of the year,” Lozano said. And about Halopoff and Sasarith, Lozano said, “They’re feeding off of each other.”

For PHS (1-5 in the EYL), which had also been showing progress and was coming off a 43-39 loss to Cesar Chavez in a game it could have easily won, Friday’s game was obviously somewhat of an unsettling development.

“Coach Lozano did a great job,” Porterville coach Tom Fiormonti said. “She completely outscored me. And their kids outplayed us. Mentally we weren’t into the game. We played tentative. I don’t know what it was.”

Fiormonti said one key was PHS didn’t involve Alia Alvarez in the offense in the first half. Alvarez scored just one point in the first half as Granite built a 31-16 halftime lead. Alvarez did score 13 second half points to finish with 14 points.

Halopoff set the tone for the game, scoring the game’s first five points as Granite jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Halopoff hit a three-pointer to begin the game, making it 3-0.

Halopoff ended the first quarter by finding Sasarith underneath for a basket to give Granite a 20-6 lead. 

The Grizzlies built their lead to 41-20 when Alvarez scored on a drive through the lane and was fouled. She converted the three-point play to pull Porterville to within 41-23. But Lupita Flores ended the third quarter with a nice bounce pass inside to Sasarith, who scored to give Granite a 46-23 lead.

The Grizzlies took their biggest lead to begin the fourth quarter when Halopoff scored inside to make it 48-23. To Porterville’s credit, it did end the game with a 12-2 run to pull within the final margin.

Savannah Ertl scored 13 points for PHS and Fiormonti praised the effort of Stephanie Price, who added six points for the Panthers.

CORCORAN 49, LINDSAY BOYS 43

In a game between traditionally the East Sequoia League’s top two teams, Corcoran gained the early upper hand. Lindsay led 22-18 at halftime and 31-30 after three quarters, but Corcoran outscored Lindsay (10-9, 1-1) 19-12 in the fourth quarter for the win. Chris Misaaleafua scored 21 points, Daniel Nunez had seven points and Ritchie Lopez added six points to lead Lindsay.

STRATHMORE GIRLS 57, SIERRA PACIFIC 31

Strathmore improved to 1-1 in the East Sequoia League by rolling past Sierra Pacific on Thursday. Gabby Baca had 10 points, four assists, four rebounds and five steals before having to come out of the game with about two minutes left in the third quarter after she took a hard fall when she was fouled.

Shelby Vanasen almost posted a double double in points and steals for SHS with 14 points and nine steals. Abby Valle did post her third straight double double and fifth of the season with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three steals and Jeidi Gutierrez added 12 points for the Spartans.

Vianey Gonzalez also held Sierra Pacific’s leading scorer to half of her average as she came into the game averaging 16 points, but scored only eight. Gonzalez actually effectively held Sierra Pacific’s top scorer without a basket as her eight points came on two free throws and three uncontested layups.

“The girls responded well,” Strathmore coach Richard Miranda said. “A lot of good things, still some things we’ve got to work on.”

PHS FROSH GIRLS 16, GRANITE HILLS 9

Cassy Norris scored four points, Sierra Paiste, Maria Verduzco, Daisy Ayala, Brandy Rico and Sammy Flynn all had two points and Maddy Covert and Kayleigh Berra each added one point for Porterville’s freshmen (5-1 in the EYL).

It took a good part of the season, but it looks like the Granite Hills basketball team has found the chemistry it’s been searching for all year. And for Granite, of course, it couldn’t have come at a sweeter time — against its crosstown rival, Porterville.

Any time the Grizzlies can knock off the Panthers it’s always special and Granite did just that at home on Friday, beating PHS 54-41. Led by Ashlee Halopoff, Yo Sasarith and Elena Galvez, the Grizzlies (2-4 in the East Yosemite League) led by as many as 25 points on their way to the win.

“That was a good win for us,” Granite Hills coach Shelly Lozano said. “We needed that. Just good teamwork. We played together. I think we’re improving.”

Halopoff scored 21 points and Sasarith and Galvez each added 12 points for Granite. “She played her best game of the year,” Lozano said. And about Halopoff and Sasarith, Lozano said, “They’re feeding off of each other.”

For PHS (1-5 in the EYL), which had also been showing progress and was coming off a 43-39 loss to Cesar Chavez in a game it could have easily won, Friday’s game was obviously somewhat of an unsettling development.

“Coach Lozano did a great job,” Porterville coach Tom Fiormonti said. “She completely outscored me. And their kids outplayed us. Mentally we weren’t into the game. We played tentative. I don’t know what it was.”

Fiormonti said one key was PHS didn’t involve Alia Alvarez in the offense in the first half. Alvarez scored just one point in the first half as Granite built a 31-16 halftime lead. Alvarez did score 13 second half points to finish with 14 points.

Halopoff set the tone for the game, scoring the game’s first five points as Granite jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Halopoff hit a three-pointer to begin the game, making it 3-0.

Halopoff ended the first quarter by finding Sasarith underneath for a basket to give Granite a 20-6 lead. 

The Grizzlies built their lead to 41-20 when Alvarez scored on a drive through the lane and was fouled. She converted the three-point play to pull Porterville to within 41-23. But Lupita Flores ended the third quarter with a nice bounce pass inside to Sasarith, who scored to give Granite a 46-23 lead.

The Grizzlies took their biggest lead to begin the fourth quarter when Halopoff scored inside to make it 48-23. To Porterville’s credit, it did end the game with a 12-2 run to pull within the final margin.

Savannah Ertl scored 13 points for PHS and Fiormonti praised the effort of Stephanie Price, who added six points for the Panthers.

CORCORAN 49, LINDSAY BOYS 43

In a game between traditionally the East Sequoia League’s top two teams, Corcoran gained the early upper hand. Lindsay led 22-18 at halftime and 31-30 after three quarters, but Corcoran outscored Lindsay (10-9, 1-1) 19-12 in the fourth quarter for the win. Chris Misaaleafua scored 21 points, Daniel Nunez had seven points and Ritchie Lopez added six points to lead Lindsay.

STRATHMORE GIRLS 57, SIERRA PACIFIC 31

Strathmore improved to 1-1 in the East Sequoia League by rolling past Sierra Pacific on Thursday. Gabby Baca had 10 points, four assists, four rebounds and five steals before having to come out of the game with about two minutes left in the third quarter after she took a hard fall when she was fouled.

Shelby Vanasen almost posted a double double in points and steals for SHS with 14 points and nine steals. Abby Valle did post her third straight double double and fifth of the season with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three steals and Jeidi Gutierrez added 12 points for the Spartans.

Vianey Gonzalez also held Sierra Pacific’s leading scorer to half of her average as she came into the game averaging 16 points, but scored only eight. Gonzalez actually effectively held Sierra Pacific’s top scorer without a basket as her eight points came on two free throws and three uncontested layups.

“The girls responded well,” Strathmore coach Richard Miranda said. “A lot of good things, still some things we’ve got to work on.”

PHS FROSH GIRLS 16, GRANITE HILLS 9

Cassy Norris scored four points, Sierra Paiste, Maria Verduzco, Daisy Ayala, Brandy Rico and Sammy Flynn all had two points and Maddy Covert and Kayleigh Berra each added one point for Porterville’s freshmen (5-1 in the EYL).