Local roundup: Monache boys soccer settles for tie

The Monache boys soccer team had a chance to pick up just a little separation against one of the teams chasing it in the East Yosemite League race, but in the end didn’t pick up or lose any ground.

Monache settled for a 1-1 tie against Delano at home on Monday.

The Marauders spent the entire match trying to ovecome an early Delano goal and ended up settling for a tie. The Marauders still lead the EYL at 4-0-1 with 17 points (three points for a win, one for a tie), but Delano (2-1-1) kept the race tight by tying Monache. The Marauders, Delano, Porterville, Mission Oak and Tulare Western all look like teams that can make a run for the EYL title.

“Any team that wins one game is kind of going to take the lead in the standings,” said Monache coach Manuel Castaneda about head-to-head games between the top contenders. “You get one loss, you’re going to suffer the consequences. Any team can win the EYL. We’re still leading the way, but... we were not counting on that early goal.”

After scoring the early goal, Delano spent virtually the entire game back on defense and seemed to be even content to stay in a defensive mode through the two 10-minute overtime periods. “The whole game, they played defensively,” Monache coach Manuel Castaneda said.

Monache finally broke through with 13 minutes left in regulation when Braulio Lopez sent a free kick forward to Gerardo Rodriguez, who was able to gain control of the ball and then kick the ball into the lower left corner of the net.

Monache’s Diego Casillas had an excellent scoring chance in the first overtime and another excellent scoring chance in the second overtime, but in the second overtime the Delano goalie made a diving save on Casillas’ shot to preserve the tie.

GRANITE GIRLS 9, KENNEDY 0

Mercedes Steidley had a hat trick in each half, finishing with six goals for Granite Hills (3-2 in the EYL) against Robert F. Kennedy at Rankin Stadium. Raquel Lopez, Gabby Ayala and Yadira Figueroa also scored for Granite. Grizzlies goalie Caylin Chasser posted the shutout.

WESTERN 1, PHS GIRLS 0

Much like what happened in its 3-2 loss to Mission Oak, Porterville (1-3 in the EYL) just couldn’t quite break through against another one of the top EYL teams. Tulare Western scored late in the second half off of a free kick. PHS goalie Rochelle Lupio, who had another outstanding game, came out to knock the ball away from the Western player, but couldn’t keep her feet on the play, and Western ended upon scoring into an open net.

Porterville kept pressuring until the end as Sabreena Vallin, Alley Henry and Elicia Alvarez were among those who had excellent chances, but PHS couldn’t break through.

“It’s just like the Mission Oak game,” Porterville coach Carlos Bravo said. “It’s a game that hurts to los because you’re right there in it. We didn’t give up. Everybody was fighting, pushing and trying to score. I was pleased with the effort.”

BASKETBALL

MONACHE GIRLS 59, CHAVEZ 16

Monache (3-0 in the EYL) led Cesar Chavez 32-12 at halftime and held Chavez to four second half points on its way to the win in Delano. Dominique Pilkinton scored 12 points, Ale Tobie had 10 points, Kacie Williams had nine points, Emily Hardin had eight points and Jenae Alcantar added seven points for Monache.

MISSION OAK 67, PHS BOYS 43

Porterville (1-2 in the EYL) stayed with Mission Oak for a half before one of the EYL’s top teams pulled away in the second half in Tulare. PHS actually had a chance to go into the halftime locker room tied as it was at the foul line down 25-23 with six seconds left in the first half. But PHS missed the front end of a one-and-one and the Hawks went down the floor for a layup to take a 27-23 halftime lead.

Isaiah Moreno scored 11 points, Nick Haskins had eight points and Zach Hill added six points for PHS.

MISSION OAK 50, PHS GIRLS 28

Porterville trailed 14-0 after one quarter and also lost Jenna Duran to a knee injury in the first 20 seconds at Sharman Gym. PHS coach Tom Fiormonti said Duran’s status is unknown. 

“It was not one of our best efforts,” Fiormonti said. “We were pretty flat.”

Savannah Ertl scored 13 points and Alia Alvarez added nine points for PHS.

MONACHE JV GIRLS 47, CHAVEZ 41

Tara Patterson scored 19 points, Victoria Nichols had nine points and Danielle Emerson added eight points for Monache’s junior varsity against Cesar Chavez. 

PHS FROSH GIRLS 19, MISSION OAK 17

Sierra Paiste scored seven points, Cassy Norris had six points, Madison Covert had four points and Ka

The Monache boys soccer team had a chance to pick up just a little separation against one of the teams chasing it in the East Yosemite League race, but in the end didn’t pick up or lose any ground.

Monache settled for a 1-1 tie against Delano at home on Monday.

The Marauders spent the entire match trying to ovecome an early Delano goal and ended up settling for a tie. The Marauders still lead the EYL at 4-0-1 with 17 points (three points for a win, one for a tie), but Delano (2-1-1) kept the race tight by tying Monache. The Marauders, Delano, Porterville, Mission Oak and Tulare Western all look like teams that can make a run for the EYL title.

“Any team that wins one game is kind of going to take the lead in the standings,” said Monache coach Manuel Castaneda about head-to-head games between the top contenders. “You get one loss, you’re going to suffer the consequences. Any team can win the EYL. We’re still leading the way, but... we were not counting on that early goal.”

After scoring the early goal, Delano spent virtually the entire game back on defense and seemed to be even content to stay in a defensive mode through the two 10-minute overtime periods. “The whole game, they played defensively,” Monache coach Manuel Castaneda said.

Monache finally broke through with 13 minutes left in regulation when Braulio Lopez sent a free kick forward to Gerardo Rodriguez, who was able to gain control of the ball and then kick the ball into the lower left corner of the net.

Monache’s Diego Casillas had an excellent scoring chance in the first overtime and another excellent scoring chance in the second overtime, but in the second overtime the Delano goalie made a diving save on Casillas’ shot to preserve the tie.

GRANITE GIRLS 9, KENNEDY 0

Mercedes Steidley had a hat trick in each half, finishing with six goals for Granite Hills (3-2 in the EYL) against Robert F. Kennedy at Rankin Stadium. Raquel Lopez, Gabby Ayala and Yadira Figueroa also scored for Granite. Grizzlies goalie Caylin Chasser posted the shutout.

WESTERN 1, PHS GIRLS 0

Much like what happened in its 3-2 loss to Mission Oak, Porterville (1-3 in the EYL) just couldn’t quite break through against another one of the top EYL teams. Tulare Western scored late in the second half off of a free kick. PHS goalie Rochelle Lupio, who had another outstanding game, came out to knock the ball away from the Western player, but couldn’t keep her feet on the play, and Western ended upon scoring into an open net.

Porterville kept pressuring until the end as Sabreena Vallin, Alley Henry and Elicia Alvarez were among those who had excellent chances, but PHS couldn’t break through.

“It’s just like the Mission Oak game,” Porterville coach Carlos Bravo said. “It’s a game that hurts to los because you’re right there in it. We didn’t give up. Everybody was fighting, pushing and trying to score. I was pleased with the effort.”

BASKETBALL

MONACHE GIRLS 59, CHAVEZ 16

Monache (3-0 in the EYL) led Cesar Chavez 32-12 at halftime and held Chavez to four second half points on its way to the win in Delano. Dominique Pilkinton scored 12 points, Ale Tobie had 10 points, Kacie Williams had nine points, Emily Hardin had eight points and Jenae Alcantar added seven points for Monache.

MISSION OAK 67, PHS BOYS 43

Porterville (1-2 in the EYL) stayed with Mission Oak for a half before one of the EYL’s top teams pulled away in the second half in Tulare. PHS actually had a chance to go into the halftime locker room tied as it was at the foul line down 25-23 with six seconds left in the first half. But PHS missed the front end of a one-and-one and the Hawks went down the floor for a layup to take a 27-23 halftime lead.

Isaiah Moreno scored 11 points, Nick Haskins had eight points and Zach Hill added six points for PHS.

MISSION OAK 50, PHS GIRLS 28

Porterville trailed 14-0 after one quarter and also lost Jenna Duran to a knee injury in the first 20 seconds at Sharman Gym. PHS coach Tom Fiormonti said Duran’s status is unknown. 

“It was not one of our best efforts,” Fiormonti said. “We were pretty flat.”

Savannah Ertl scored 13 points and Alia Alvarez added nine points for PHS.

MONACHE JV GIRLS 47, CHAVEZ 41

Tara Patterson scored 19 points, Victoria Nichols had nine points and Danielle Emerson added eight points for Monache’s junior varsity against Cesar Chavez. 

PHS FROSH GIRLS 19, MISSION OAK 17

Sierra Paiste scored seven points, Cassy Norris had six points, Madison Covert had four points and Ka