Local roundup: Panther boys roll past Redwood

Redwood is always an early season barometer to see where the Porterville High boys soccer team stands. And even though it’s still early and all that, as long as this Panther team stays together, there’s no denying there will be high expectations from this club based on its performance on Thursday.

Porterville rolled to a 4-0 win over Redwood at PHS. Midfielders Chris Barraza and Cesar Hernandez helped lead the way for the Panthers as they had a hand in Porterville’s first three goals and Cesar Costela scored two goals as well for PHS.

Porterville coach Angel Vallin said what he likes about this team is it has several players that raise the level of the rest of the club, singling out Hernandez among them. “He had an excellent game,” Vallin said. “There’s certain players on this team that make the whole team better.”

Vallin praised the play of his entire midfield of Andrew Connolly, Barraza, Hernandez and Ariel Rosso. “My whole midfield played excellent,” Vallin said. “They support the forwards and help out our defense. It’s a good combination to have.”

PHS took a 1-0 halftime lead on the strength of a pass by Hernandez, who sent a ball forward to a streaking Costela, who broke free for the goal. Hernandez almost had another assist on an outstanding pass, but the shot bounced off the crossbar.

Goalies Lanron Acencio and Francisco Torres combined to post the shutout for PHS. Acencio had an oustanding save to preserve Porterville’s lead in the first half when Redwood had an unopposed shot right in front of the goal, but Acencio was able to making a leaping save, punching the ball away with his right fist. Torres picked up where Acencio left off in the second half.

“It is great to have two great keepers,” Vallin said. “That’s a great problem to have.”

In the second half, Barraza sent a free kick from about 40 yards that the Redwood goalie couldn’t handle cleanly. Costela was Johnny on the spot as he was right there to score on the rebound to make it 2-0. About a minute later, Hernandez crossed a pass to Juan Angeles in front of the goal and Angeles placed the ball in the left lower corner of the net to give Porterville a 3-0 lead.

Andres Garcia and Chris Mendoza got into the act for PHS as time ran out with Mendoza scoring off of a pass from Garcia as his shot bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and across the goal line to finish the scoring.

BASKETBALL

CHABOT 84, PC MEN 80

Porterville almost pulled off its biggest win of the season, nearly pulling off the upset against Chabot, ranked No. 10 in the state, at the American River Tournament. PC led by seven points with seven minutes left before Chabot came back for the win on the strength of two three-pointers. PC got as close as 82-80 before falling.

“It was a back and forth battle,” PC coch T.J. Jennings said. 

PC’s effort on Thursday was obviously a far cry from its 84-54 loss to Bakersfield College on Tuesday. “We didn’t get off the bus,” said Jennings about what happened Tuesday.

But Jennings said his team continues to be outrebounded by its opponents. “We’re having trouble on the boards,” he said. “That’s our biggest issue.”

Jason Carmichael scored 22 points, Mikey Hildalgo had 16 points, Kameron Hoyt had 12 points and Jonathan Brown added 10 points for PC (3-6), which continues play in the tournament at 1 p.m. today.

CERRITOS 80, PC WOMEN 46

Porterville had trouble getting going in the Tom Gilcrest Invitational at the College of the Sequoias. “We had no energy,” PC coach Dave Kavern said. “We just came out very flat.”

Regine Mecenario scored 10 points, Bethany Reed had seven points and Katrina Goulbourne and Maribel Bravo added six points for PC.

PC continues play in the tournament at 2 p.m. today.

TULARE UNION 54, PHS GIRLS 23

Porterville lost to one of the East Yosemite League’s top teams at the Redwood Tournament. Savannah Ertl scored 11 points for PHS. “They just beat us in every phase of the game,” Porterville coach Tom Fiormonti said.

Redwood is always an early season barometer to see where the Porterville High boys soccer team stands. And even though it’s still early and all that, as long as this Panther team stays together, there’s no denying there will be high expectations from this club based on its performance on Thursday.

Porterville rolled to a 4-0 win over Redwood at PHS. Midfielders Chris Barraza and Cesar Hernandez helped lead the way for the Panthers as they had a hand in Porterville’s first three goals and Cesar Costela scored two goals as well for PHS.

Porterville coach Angel Vallin said what he likes about this team is it has several players that raise the level of the rest of the club, singling out Hernandez among them. “He had an excellent game,” Vallin said. “There’s certain players on this team that make the whole team better.”

Vallin praised the play of his entire midfield of Andrew Connolly, Barraza, Hernandez and Ariel Rosso. “My whole midfield played excellent,” Vallin said. “They support the forwards and help out our defense. It’s a good combination to have.”

PHS took a 1-0 halftime lead on the strength of a pass by Hernandez, who sent a ball forward to a streaking Costela, who broke free for the goal. Hernandez almost had another assist on an outstanding pass, but the shot bounced off the crossbar.

Goalies Lanron Acencio and Francisco Torres combined to post the shutout for PHS. Acencio had an oustanding save to preserve Porterville’s lead in the first half when Redwood had an unopposed shot right in front of the goal, but Acencio was able to making a leaping save, punching the ball away with his right fist. Torres picked up where Acencio left off in the second half.

“It is great to have two great keepers,” Vallin said. “That’s a great problem to have.”

In the second half, Barraza sent a free kick from about 40 yards that the Redwood goalie couldn’t handle cleanly. Costela was Johnny on the spot as he was right there to score on the rebound to make it 2-0. About a minute later, Hernandez crossed a pass to Juan Angeles in front of the goal and Angeles placed the ball in the left lower corner of the net to give Porterville a 3-0 lead.

Andres Garcia and Chris Mendoza got into the act for PHS as time ran out with Mendoza scoring off of a pass from Garcia as his shot bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and across the goal line to finish the scoring.

BASKETBALL

CHABOT 84, PC MEN 80

Porterville almost pulled off its biggest win of the season, nearly pulling off the upset against Chabot, ranked No. 10 in the state, at the American River Tournament. PC led by seven points with seven minutes left before Chabot came back for the win on the strength of two three-pointers. PC got as close as 82-80 before falling.

“It was a back and forth battle,” PC coch T.J. Jennings said. 

PC’s effort on Thursday was obviously a far cry from its 84-54 loss to Bakersfield College on Tuesday. “We didn’t get off the bus,” said Jennings about what happened Tuesday.

But Jennings said his team continues to be outrebounded by its opponents. “We’re having trouble on the boards,” he said. “That’s our biggest issue.”

Jason Carmichael scored 22 points, Mikey Hildalgo had 16 points, Kameron Hoyt had 12 points and Jonathan Brown added 10 points for PC (3-6), which continues play in the tournament at 1 p.m. today.

CERRITOS 80, PC WOMEN 46

Porterville had trouble getting going in the Tom Gilcrest Invitational at the College of the Sequoias. “We had no energy,” PC coach Dave Kavern said. “We just came out very flat.”

Regine Mecenario scored 10 points, Bethany Reed had seven points and Katrina Goulbourne and Maribel Bravo added six points for PC.

PC continues play in the tournament at 2 p.m. today.

TULARE UNION 54, PHS GIRLS 23

Porterville lost to one of the East Yosemite League’s top teams at the Redwood Tournament. Savannah Ertl scored 11 points for PHS. “They just beat us in every phase of the game,” Porterville coach Tom Fiormonti said.