Local hoops roundup: Panther boys fall just short

It was a battle of two evenly matched teams so the game figured to go down to the wire. But in the end, the Porterville High boys basketball team fell just short in a 57-53 loss at Delano on Monday.

Porterville overcame a 12-point deficit to briefly lead and tied the game 52-52 when Courtland Duckworth, who had 19 points, scored on a drive to the basket. But PHS couldn’t overcome Delano’s Chris Sterling, who scored 26 points, and hit a three-point shot to give Delano a 55-52 lead.

Isaiah Moreno, who scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, hit 1-of-2 free throws to pull PHS (3-4 in the EYL) within 55-53. But Delano (4-3 in the EYL) went on to hit two free throws to put the game away.

PHS trailed 36-26 in the third quarter when it went on a 11-0 run to take a 37-36 lead. Zach Hill added nine points for PHS.

MONACHE GIRLS 78, KENNEDY 11

Jenae Alcantar scored 17 points, Emily Hardin had 16 points, Dominique Pilkinton had 14 points, Kacie Williams had 12 points and Chrissy Lopez added eight points to lead Monache (7-0 in the EYL).

MONACHE BOYS 62, KENNEDY 53

Monache was finally able to pull away at the end at Kennedy, outscoring Kennedy 15-9 in the fourth quarter. Monache led 21-11 after one quarter, but Kennedy came back to close to within 28-26 at halftime and trailed the Marauders by just one, 47-46 after three quarters.

Mark Pascual scored 14 points, Adam Kittrell had nine points and Sal Arredondo, Elijah Olais and Daniel Hernandez all added eight points for Monache (4-3 in the EYL).

MONACHE JV GIRLS 66, KENNEDY 6

Tarah Patterson scored 18 points, Victoria Nichols added 14 points, Danielle Emerson had 11 points and Riley Davis added 10 points to lead Monache’s junior varsity.

MONACHE FROSH GIRLS 59, KENNEDY 17

Bailey Margosian scored 15 points, Karina Garcia had 10 points and Electa Wright added 11 points to lead Monache’s freshmen (11-0, 7-0).

DELANO 41, PHS FROSH 36

Brandy Rico had nine points and eight rebounds, Kayleigh Berra had six points, Sierra Paiste and Cassy Norris each had four points, Maddy Covert had seven rebounds, Sammy Flynn had three points, Jasmin Lemus and Carolyn Cohea each had two points and Maria Verduzco added one point for Porterville’s freshmen (5-2 in the EYL).

It was a battle of two evenly matched teams so the game figured to go down to the wire. But in the end, the Porterville High boys basketball team fell just short in a 57-53 loss at Delano on Monday.

Porterville overcame a 12-point deficit to briefly lead and tied the game 52-52 when Courtland Duckworth, who had 19 points, scored on a drive to the basket. But PHS couldn’t overcome Delano’s Chris Sterling, who scored 26 points, and hit a three-point shot to give Delano a 55-52 lead.

Isaiah Moreno, who scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, hit 1-of-2 free throws to pull PHS (3-4 in the EYL) within 55-53. But Delano (4-3 in the EYL) went on to hit two free throws to put the game away.

PHS trailed 36-26 in the third quarter when it went on a 11-0 run to take a 37-36 lead. Zach Hill added nine points for PHS.

MONACHE GIRLS 78, KENNEDY 11

Jenae Alcantar scored 17 points, Emily Hardin had 16 points, Dominique Pilkinton had 14 points, Kacie Williams had 12 points and Chrissy Lopez added eight points to lead Monache (7-0 in the EYL).

MONACHE BOYS 62, KENNEDY 53

Monache was finally able to pull away at the end at Kennedy, outscoring Kennedy 15-9 in the fourth quarter. Monache led 21-11 after one quarter, but Kennedy came back to close to within 28-26 at halftime and trailed the Marauders by just one, 47-46 after three quarters.

Mark Pascual scored 14 points, Adam Kittrell had nine points and Sal Arredondo, Elijah Olais and Daniel Hernandez all added eight points for Monache (4-3 in the EYL).

MONACHE JV GIRLS 66, KENNEDY 6

Tarah Patterson scored 18 points, Victoria Nichols added 14 points, Danielle Emerson had 11 points and Riley Davis added 10 points to lead Monache’s junior varsity.

MONACHE FROSH GIRLS 59, KENNEDY 17

Bailey Margosian scored 15 points, Karina Garcia had 10 points and Electa Wright added 11 points to lead Monache’s freshmen (11-0, 7-0).

DELANO 41, PHS FROSH 36

Brandy Rico had nine points and eight rebounds, Kayleigh Berra had six points, Sierra Paiste and Cassy Norris each had four points, Maddy Covert had seven rebounds, Sammy Flynn had three points, Jasmin Lemus and Carolyn Cohea each had two points and Maria Verduzco added one point for Porterville’s freshmen (5-2 in the EYL).