Local roundup: PHS, Monache boys, Granite girls 2-0 in EYL

With the daunting task of opening East Yosemite League play this week against two of the EYL’s top teams in Tulare Western and Mission Oak, the Monache boys soccer team faced the potential of falling behind early in the league race.

Instead, the Marauders have jumped out ahead in the EYL race. Coming off a 2-1 win at Tulare Western on Monday, Monache followed that up with a 3-1 victory over Mission Oak on Wednesday. Also off to a 2-0 start in the EYL is Porterville, which took an impressive 3-0 win over Tulare Union on Wedneday at PHS. Union figured to be another team to contend in the EYL race, but the Panthers dominated the Redskins.

“Oh my, what a game we played,” Monache coach Manuel Castaneda said. “We are on the right track. We have a good bunch of kids.”

Monache goalie Marco Vieyra was able to keep the game scoreless when he cleared the ball out before a Mission Oak player had a clean chance on a breakaway and then made a one-handed save off the ensuing corner kick. Vieyra also punched out another corner kick to keep the game scoreless.

With five minutes left in the first half, Manuel Navarro crossed a pass to the center for Monache and off the rebound, Gerardo Rodriguez scored the first of his two goals on a bicycle kick with his back to the goal, sending the ball just under the crossbar to give Monache a 1-0 halftime lead. Mission Oak scored on a well-executed free kick, leading to a header that tied the score 1-1. Vieyra then kept the game at 1-1 when he punched a header over the crossbar. Moments later, Rodriguez got open in front of the goal and scored to give Monache a 2-1 lead.

Diego Casillas almost added an insurance goal for Monache (6-1), but his shot bounced off the top of the crossbar. But Casillas later crossed a pass to Jonathan Vasquez, who beat a defender, and scored for the final margin.

PHS 3, UNION 0

Union used an offsides trap to try to stop Porterville (4-0) early, but Andrew Connolley opened the Union defense up when he scored on a free kick from 25 yards, sending a low line drive into the lower corner of the net to give PHS a 1-0 lead. “A real nice, hard powerful shot there,” Porterville coach Angel Vallin said.

About a minute after he came into the game, Andres Garcia beat the defense for a goal to give PHS a 2-0 halftime lead. Ariel Rosso stole the ball from a Union defender and went on to score to finish the scoring for PHS.

Porterville (4-0) still hasn’t allowed a goal in four games. PHS goalie Francisco Torres kept the streak in tact when he was able to make an outstanding hockey-style kick save on a penalty kick after PHS was called for a questionable foul in the goal box. Torres and Lanron Asencio combined to post the shutout for the Panthers.

“This was a pretty good test for the guys,” Vallin said. “We got off to a good start.”

GRANITE GIRLS 5, CHAVEZ 2

Mercedes Steidley scored four goals to lead Granite Hills (3-1, 2-0 EYL) to an easy victory over Granite Hills.

Steidley has now scored 11 goals in Granite Hills’ last three games. 

“She’s on a tear,” Grizzlies coach Gabe Rodriguez said of the junior, who punched in 27 goals last season.

Debra Rodriguez scored Granite Hills’ other goal against Chavez on a header. Steidley was credited with the assist.

BASKETBALL

SHS GIRLS 48, PHS 38

This time, Strathmore (7-0), which has been plagued by slow starts, got off to a fast start at Sharman Gym. Gabby Baca hit the first of her four three-pointers, all in the first half, to spark SHS to a 7-0 lead and Strathmore led 14-6 after one quarter and 25-16 at halftime. 

PHS did a better job defensively in the second half against Baca, who finished with 18 points. “We started off good and hung on for the win, so we’re reversing it,” Strathmore coach Richard Miranda said.

Also for Strathmore, Abby Valle had 10 points and seven rebounds, Jeidi Gutierrez had nine points and six rebounds and Shelby Vanasen added seven points, five rebounds and three steals.

“It was much better, but still a lot of things to work on,” said Miranda about his team’s play.

Porterville closed to within 35-30 after three quarters, but SHS scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to take a 41-30 lead. “Our effort was significantly better in the second half,” Porterville coach Tom Fiormonti said. “We came out a little bit flat.”

Fiormonti said another key to the game was Strathmore’s rebounding.

Savannah Ertl scored 18 points, MaryRose McGinn had eight points, Alia Alvarez had seven points and Jenna Duran added five points to account for all of Porterville’s scoring.

Miranda also praised the defensive play of Vianey Gonzalez against Alvarez, one of Porterville’s top offensive threats.

LINDSAY BOYS 67. ORANGE COVE 36

Lindsay (5-1) led 34-20 at halftime and then outscored Orange Cove 22-4 in the third quarter to take a 56-24 lead and bust the game wide open at the Lindsay-Strathmore Tournament. Chris Misaaleafua scored 19 points, Gavin Mann had 12 points, Jeff See had nine points and Daniel Nunez added eight points for Lindsay. The Cardinals will continue play in the tournament at 7 p.m. today against Laton at Lindsay.

FARMERSVILLE 48, STRATHMORE BOYS 35

Jorge Ibarra had 16 points and eight rebounds, Eddie Lurz scored eight points and Eric Lopez added seven points for Strathmore. SHS continues play in the Lindsay-Strathmore Tournament at 7 p.m. today against Lindsay’s junior varsity at Strathmore.

With the daunting task of opening East Yosemite League play this week against two of the EYL’s top teams in Tulare Western and Mission Oak, the Monache boys soccer team faced the potential of falling behind early in the league race.

Instead, the Marauders have jumped out ahead in the EYL race. Coming off a 2-1 win at Tulare Western on Monday, Monache followed that up with a 3-1 victory over Mission Oak on Wednesday. Also off to a 2-0 start in the EYL is Porterville, which took an impressive 3-0 win over Tulare Union on Wedneday at PHS. Union figured to be another team to contend in the EYL race, but the Panthers dominated the Redskins.

“Oh my, what a game we played,” Monache coach Manuel Castaneda said. “We are on the right track. We have a good bunch of kids.”

Monache goalie Marco Vieyra was able to keep the game scoreless when he cleared the ball out before a Mission Oak player had a clean chance on a breakaway and then made a one-handed save off the ensuing corner kick. Vieyra also punched out another corner kick to keep the game scoreless.

With five minutes left in the first half, Manuel Navarro crossed a pass to the center for

Monache and off the rebound, Gerardo Rodriguez scored the first of his two goals on a bicycle kick with his back to the goal, sending the ball just under the crossbar to give Monache a 1-0 halftime lead. Mission Oak scored on a well-executed free kick, leading to a header that tied the score 1-1. Vieyra then kept the game at 1-1 when he punched a header over the crossbar. Moments later, Rodriguez got open in front of the goal and scored to give Monache a 2-1 lead.

Diego Casillas almost added an insurance goal for Monache (6-1), but his shot bounced off the top of the crossbar. But Casillas later crossed a pass to Jonathan Vasquez, who beat a defender, and scored for the final margin.

PHS 3, UNION 0

Union used an offsides trap to try to stop Porterville (4-0) early, but Andrew Connolley opened the Union defense up when he scored on a free kick from 25 yards, sending a low line drive into the lower corner of the net to give PHS a 1-0 lead. “A real nice, hard powerful shot there,” Porterville coach Angel Vallin said.

About a minute after he came into the game, Andres Garcia beat the defense for a goal to give PHS a 2-0 halftime lead. Ariel Rosso stole the ball from a Union defender and went on to score to finish the scoring for PHS.

Porterville (4-0) still hasn’t allowed a goal in four games. PHS goalie Francisco Torres kept the streak in tact when he was able to make an outstanding hockey-style kick save on a penalty kick after PHS was called for a questionable foul in the goal box. Torres and Lanron Asencio combined to post the shutout for the Panthers.

“This was a pretty good test for the guys,” Vallin said. “We got off to a good start.”

GRANITE GIRLS 5, CHAVEZ 2

Mercedes Steidley scored four goals to lead Granite Hills (3-1, 2-0 EYL) to an easy victory over Granite Hills.

Steidley has now scored 11 goals in Granite Hills’ last three games. 

“She’s on a tear,” Grizzlies coach Gabe Rodriguez said of the junior, who punched in 27 goals last season.

Debra Rodriguez scored Granite Hills’ other goal against Chavez on a header. Steidley was credited with the assist.

BASKETBALL

SHS GIRLS 48, PHS 38

This time, Strathmore (7-0), which has been plagued by slow starts, got off to a fast start at Sharman Gym. Gabby Baca hit the first of her four three-pointers, all in the first half, to spark SHS to a 7-0 lead and Strathmore led 14-6 after one quarter and 25-16 at halftime. 

PHS did a better job defensively in the second half against Baca, who finished with 18 points. “We started off good and hung on for the win, so we’re reversing it,” Strathmore coach Richard Miranda said.

Also for Strathmore, Abby Valle had 10 points and seven rebounds, Jeidi Gutierrez had nine points and six rebounds and Shelby Vanasen added seven points, five rebounds and three steals.

“It was much better, but still a lot of things to work on,” said Miranda about his team’s play.

Porterville closed to within 35-30 after three quarters, but SHS scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to take a 41-30 lead. “Our effort was significantly better in the second half,” Porterville coach Tom Fiormonti said. “We came out a little bit flat.”

Fiormonti said another key to the game was Strathmore’s rebounding.

Savannah Ertl scored 18 points, MaryRose McGinn had eight points, Alia Alvarez had seven points and Jenna Duran added five points to account for all of Porterville’s scoring.

Miranda also praised the defensive play of Vianey Gonzalez against Alvarez, one of Porterville’s top offensive threats.

LINDSAY BOYS 67. ORANGE COVE 36

Lindsay (5-1) led 34-20 at halftime and then outscored Orange Cove 22-4 in the third quarter to take a 56-24 lead and bust the game wide open at the Lindsay-Strathmore Tournament. Chris Misaaleafua scored 19 points, Gavin Mann had 12 points, Jeff See had nine points and Daniel Nunez added eight points for Lindsay. The Cardinals will continue play in the tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday against Laton at Lindsay.

FARMERSVILLE 48, STRATHMORE BOYS 35

Jorge Ibarra had 16 points and eight rebounds, Eddie Lurz scored eight points and Eric Lopez added seven points for Strathmore. SHS continues play in the Lindsay-Strathmore Tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday against Lindsay’s junior varsity at Strathmore.