PHS beats Monache in overtime thriller

Talk about survival of the fittest.

To say that every point was hard to come by would be an understatement. But to Porterville High, in a rivalry, it doesn’t matter how pretty the win is. A win is a win, especially when you’re chasing a playoff berth.

Porterville strengthened its playoff chances by improving to 4-4 in the East Yosemite League with a hard fought, hard earned 34-32 overtime win over Monache (4-4 in the EYL) on Tuesday at Sharman Gym.

Zach Hill made 1-of-2 foul shots to give PHS a 33-32 lead and Courtland Duckworth made the first of two foul shots to make it 34-32 for the Panthers with 8.3 seconds left. Duckworth missed the second foul shot and after a battle for the rebound, PHS turned the ball over with 6.5 seconds left. Monache’s Daniel Hernandez missed a three-pointer at the buzzer and the Panthers had the win.

The game entered overtime at 29-29, thanks to Monache’s Elijah Olais, who made a putback and was fouled. He coverted the three-point play to make it 29-29. Porterville led 26-21 going into the fourth quarter, but scored just three points, all on Isaiah Moreno free throws.

PHS trailed 19-15 at halftime, but went on a 9-0 run to begin the third quarter. The run ended when Zack Ward made an acrobatic, off balance shot in the lane and was fouled. Ward converted the three-point play to make it 24-19.

After Elijah Olais scored to give Monache a 2-0 lead, Moreno hit a three-pointer to begin a 7-0 run that gave PHS a 7-2 lead. Monache pulled to within 9-8 on the strength of Mark Pascual’s score on a drive through the lane. Pascual was fouled and he converted the three-point play. Duckworth stole an inbound pass and scored on a layup to give PHS an 11-8 lead after one quarter.

Giovanni Escalante hit a three to give Monache a 13-11 lead and then Hernandez scored two straight baskets to give Monache a 17-13 lead late in the first half.

MONACHE JVS 47, PHS 26

Miguel Mejia scored 14 points and Joseph Sandoval and Jesus Salas each added seven points to lead Monache’s junior varsity. Raymond Ramos led PHS with six points.

PHS FROSH 37, MONACHE 27

Devin Cunningham scored nine points, Eli Mascorro had eight points and Connor Carson added seven points to lead Porterville’s freshmen (11-0, 8-0). Jordan Stoll scored eight points to lead Monache.

DELANO 67, PHS GIRLS 33

Delano hit seven three-pointers, including four in the first quarter on its way to beating Porterville on Monday at Sharman Gym. Delano hit a three to begin the game as it jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Ashlei Esparza scored for PHS to break the run. Savannah Ertl scored 16 points, Katie Smithey had seven points and Alia Alvarez added six points for Porterville. 

WESTERN 57, GRANITE GIRLS 37

Yo Sasarith scored 15 points, Ashlee Halopoff had 10 points and Elena Galvez added seven points to lead Granite Hills at Tulare Western on Monday.

SOCCER 

GRANITE GIRLS 3, DELANO 0

Raquel Lopez and Crystal Zavala scored to give Granite Hills (5-6, 4-5 in the East Yosemite League) a 2-0 halftime lead and Mercedes Steidley scored in the second half for the Grizzlies on Monday. Granite goalie Caylin Chasser posted the shutout.

Talk about survival of the fittest.

To say that every point was hard to come by would be an understatement. But to Porterville High, in a rivalry, it doesn’t matter how pretty the win is. A win is a win, especially when you’re chasing a playoff berth.

Porterville strengthened its playoff chances by improving to 4-4 in the East Yosemite League with a hard fought, hard earned 34-32 overtime win over Monache (4-4 in the EYL) on Tuesday at Sharman Gym.

Zach Hill made 1-of-2 foul shots to give PHS a 33-32 lead and Courtland Duckworth made the first of two foul shots to make it 34-32 for the Panthers with 8.3 seconds left. Duckworth missed the second foul shot and after a battle for the rebound, PHS turned the ball over with 6.5 seconds left. Monache’s Daniel Hernandez missed a three-pointer at the buzzer and the Panthers had the win.

The game entered overtime at 29-29, thanks to Monache’s Elijah Olais, who made a putback and was fouled. He coverted the three-point play to make it 29-29. Porterville led 26-21 going into the fourth quarter, but scored just three points, all on Isaiah Moreno free throws.

PHS trailed 19-15 at halftime, but went on a 9-0 run to begin the third quarter. The run ended when Zack Ward made an acrobatic, off balance shot in the lane and was fouled. Ward converted the three-point play to make it 24-19.

After Elijah Olais scored to give Monache a 2-0 lead, Moreno hit a three-pointer to begin a 7-0 run that gave PHS a 7-2 lead. Monache pulled to within 9-8 on the strength of Mark Pascual’s score on a drive through the lane. Pascual was fouled and he converted the three-point play. Duckworth stole an inbound pass and scored on a layup to give PHS an 11-8 lead after one quarter.

Giovanni Escalante hit a three to give Monache a 13-11 lead and then Hernandez scored two straight baskets to give Monache a 17-13 lead late in the first half.

MONACHE JVS 47, PHS 26

Miguel Mejia scored 14 points and Joseph Sandoval and Jesus Salas each added seven points to lead Monache’s junior varsity. Raymond Ramos led PHS with six points.

PHS FROSH 37, MONACHE 27

Devin Cunningham scored nine points, Eli Mascorro had eight points and Connor Carson added seven points to lead Porterville’s freshmen (11-0, 8-0). Jordan Stoll scored eight points to lead Monache.

DELANO 67, PHS GIRLS 33

Delano hit seven three-pointers, including four in the first quarter on its way to beating Porterville on Monday at Sharman Gym. Delano hit a three to begin the game as it jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Ashlei Esparza scored for PHS to break the run. Savannah Ertl scored 16 points, Katie Smithey had seven points and Alia Alvarez added six points for Porterville. 

WESTERN 57, GRANITE GIRLS 37

Yo Sasarith scored 15 points, Ashlee Halopoff had 10 points and Elena Galvez added seven points to lead Granite Hills at Tulare Western on Monday.

SOCCER 

GRANITE GIRLS 3, DELANO 0

Raquel Lopez and Crystal Zavala scored to give Granite Hills (5-6, 4-5 in the East Yosemite League) a 2-0 halftime lead and Mercedes Steidley scored in the second half for the Grizzlies on Monday. Granite goalie Caylin Chasser posted the shutout.