Local roundup: Strathmore girls soccer rolls

STRATHMORE — The chant after the game when the Strathmore High girls soccer team broke its huddle was going to be “Champions,” but Nayeli Colunga would rather wait until the Spartans make it official.

“No, don’t say that,” Colunga said after Strathmore beat Woodlake 4-0 on Thursday at Spartan Stadium.

Strathmore (17-2-1) improved to 5-0 in the East Sequoia League in beating Woodlake, a team that has been one of its toughest ESL rivals over the years. If SHS can beat Orosi and Corcoran — two teams it beat by a combined 31-0 in the first round — in its next two games, it will do no worse than clinch a share of the ESL title. “Very possibly the league championship was played tonight,” Strathmore coach Hector Gonzalez said.

Even though Strathmore dominated throughout, the game was still in doubt with about 10 minutes left as the Spartans were clinging to a 1-0 lead. But then SHS exploded for three goals over the last 10 minutes.

Brianna Rodriguez began the onslaught with a perfectly placed corner kick to Alejandra Orozco. who scored on a header to give SHS a 2-0 lead. After Spartan goalie Sasha Garcia made a diving save to preserve the shutout, Colunga beat the Woodlake goalie to the ball on a breakway for a goal to give Strathmore a 3-0 lead.

Then Colunga scored an incredible goal on a header from more than 15 yards from the net just inside the goal box, sending a high arching shot that the Woodlake goalie could barely place her hand on before it went into the goal.

Strathmore took a 1-0 lead on Kayla Holloway’s shot from just outside the goal box that went just underneath the crossbar. For the rest of the first half, Strathmore had numerous chances, but couldn’t cash in.

Hailey Tsuboi sent a ball forward to Celeste Navarrete, but the Woodlake goalie made a diving save on Navarrete’s shot. Colunga later sent a beautiful crossing pass to Alexia Platas, who just missed on a shot on her header. Colunga had another shot bounce off the post and the Woodlake goalie also came out to stop Navarrete when it looked like Navarrete was going to score.

On the rare times that Woodlake did threaten, defenders Taylor Brown and Victoria Rutherford were there to stop the threat.

“What can you say, they’re a good team,” said Gonzalez about his team. “Both teams played well. The rivarly’s always there. So it makes it a little special.”

“Like I’ve been saying all season, they touch the ball well,” Gonzalez also said about his team. “Everybody touches the ball. It was a good team effort. They moved the ball around very well.”

STRATHMORE JVS 4, WOODLAKE 1

Judith Uribe scored twice and Autumn Poole and Jackie Lopez each scored once for Strathmore’s junior varsity.

WRESTLING

PHS ROLLS

Porterville continued on its collision course for a showdown with Monache for the East Yosemite League title by routing Tulare Union 78-6 and Cesar Chavez 81-0 to improve to 6-0 in the EYL. Against Union, Martin Sandoval (138), Joe Duran (145) and Edgar Madrigral (heavyweight) all won by pin. Against Chavez, Geo Gonzalez (220), Mason Pengilly (120) and Abel Contreras (126) all won by pin.

PHS will host Granite Hills and Monache this Thursday at Sharman Gym, with the matches beginning at 5 p.m.

BASKETBALL

WOODLAKE 35, STRATMORE GIRLS 33

It looked like Abbe Valle had sent the game into overtime for Strathmore (13-6, 1-3) when she hit a shot at the buzzer, but the officials ruled that the shot came after the buzzer.

“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Strathmore coach Richard Miranda said. “The ball’s in the air when the buzzer goes off. We should have never been in that position anyway.”

In the end, Strathmore couldn’t overcome 31 turnovers and a 10-point deficit in the first half.

SHS actually came back to take a 32-29 lead in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t fully take advantage of its free throws, hitting 6-of-12 foul shots in the final period.

Gabby Bacahad 13 points, three rebounds and four steals, Shelby Vanasen had seven points and five steals and Valle added six rebounds, two blocks and four steals for Strathmore.

WOODLAKE 60, STRATHMORE BOYS 51

Jorge Ibarra scored 15 points, Leonard Massey and Eddie Lurz each had 10 points and Eric Lopez added eight points to lead Strathmore.

 

PC MEN 81, MERCED 66

Porterville College (11-10, 4-2 in the Central Valley Conference) moved into a tie for second placed in the CVC with COS on Wednesday at Merced. “It’s really in our hands in terms of our destiny,” said PC coach T.J. Jennings about a top two finish in the CVC, which would clinch a state playoff berth. “Tonight was a must win. Even though we started off shaky, I was very pleased with our performance in the second half.”

PC fell behind by as many as 15 points in the first half before closing to within 36-29 at halftime, then outscored Merced 52-30 in the second half. Kameron Hoyt scored 25 points, Mikey Hidalgo had 19 points, Miguel Perez had 13 points and Jordan Wilkinson added 11 points for Porterville.

Jennings also praised the play of Donald Lee, whose penetration opened up many scoring chances for PC, and Johnathon Brown, who scored eight points. “It was a total team win,” Jennings said.

Porterville played without one of its top players, Jason Carmichael, who continues to be bothered by a sore back.

STRATHMORE JV BOYS 46, WOODLAKE 44

Cody Chapa scored 17 points, Hector Garcia had 14 points and Sam Sprague added six points to lead Strathmore’s junior varsity (8-7, 4-0). 

STRATHMORE FROSH BOYS 47, WOODLAKE 33

Drew Pearson scored 16 points and Jack Lewis added 10 points to lead Strathmore’s freshmen.

STRATHMORE — The chant after the game when the Strathmore High girls soccer team broke its huddle was going to be “Champions,” but Nayeli Colunga would rather wait until the Spartans make it official.

“No, don’t say that,” Colunga said after Strathmore beat Woodlake 4-0 on Thursday at Spartan Stadium.

Strathmore (17-2-1) improved to 5-0 in the East Sequoia League in beating Woodlake, a team that has been one of its toughest ESL rivals over the years. If SHS can beat Orosi and Corcoran — two teams it beat by a combined 31-0 in the first round — in its next two games, it will do no worse than clinch a share of the ESL title. “Very possibly the league championship was played tonight,” Strathmore coach Hector Gonzalez said.

Even though Strathmore dominated throughout, the game was still in doubt with about 10 minutes left as the Spartans were clinging to a 1-0 lead. But then SHS exploded for three goals over the last 10 minutes.

Brianna Rodriguez began the onslaught with a perfectly placed corner kick to Alejandra Orozco. who scored on a header to give SHS a 2-0 lead. After Spartan goalie Sasha Garcia made a diving save to preserve the shutout, Colunga beat the Woodlake goalie to the ball on a breakway for a goal to give Strathmore a 3-0 lead.

Then Colunga scored an incredible goal on a header from more than 15 yards from the net just inside the goal box, sending a high arching shot that the Woodlake goalie could barely place her hand on before it went into the goal.

Strathmore took a 1-0 lead on Kayla Holloway’s shot from just outside the goal box that went just underneath the crossbar. For the rest of the first half, Strathmore had numerous chances, but couldn’t cash in.

Hailey Tsuboi sent a ball forward to Celeste Navarrete, but the Woodlake goalie made a diving save on Navarrete’s shot. Colunga later sent a beautiful crossing pass to Alexia Platas, who just missed on a shot on her header. Colunga had another shot bounce off the post and the Woodlake goalie also came out to stop Navarrete when it looked like Navarrete was going to score.

On the rare times that Woodlake did threaten, defenders Taylor Brown and Victoria Rutherford were there to stop the threat.

“What can you say, they’re a good team,” said Gonzalez about his team. “Both teams played well. The rivarly’s always there. So it makes it a little special.”

“Like I’ve been saying all season, they touch the ball well,” Gonzalez also said about his team. “Everybody touches the ball. It was a good team effort. They moved the ball around very well.”

STRATHMORE JVS 4, WOODLAKE 1

Judith Uribe scored twice and Autumn Poole and Jackie Lopez each scored once for Strathmore’s junior varsity.

WRESTLING

PHS ROLLS

Porterville continued on its collision course for a showdown with Monache for the East Yosemite League title by routing Tulare Union 78-6 and Cesar Chavez 81-0 to improve to 6-0 in the EYL. Against Union, Martin Sandoval (138), Joe Duran (145) and Edgar Madrigral (heavyweight) all won by pin. Against Chavez, Geo Gonzalez (220), Mason Pengilly (120) and Abel Contreras (126) all won by pin.

PHS will host Granite Hills and Monache this Thursday at Sharman Gym, with the matches beginning at 5 p.m.

BASKETBALL

WOODLAKE 35, STRATMORE GIRLS 33

It looked like Abbe Valle had sent the game into overtime for Strathmore (13-6, 1-3) when she hit a shot at the buzzer, but the officials ruled that the shot came after the buzzer.

“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Strathmore coach Richard Miranda said. “The ball’s in the air when the buzzer goes off. We should have never been in that position anyway.”

In the end, Strathmore couldn’t overcome 31 turnovers and a 10-point deficit in the first half.

SHS actually came back to take a 32-29 lead in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t fully take advantage of its free throws, hitting 6-of-12 foul shots in the final period.

Gabby Bacahad 13 points, three rebounds and four steals, Shelby Vanasen had seven points and five steals and Valle added six rebounds, two blocks and four steals for Strathmore.

WOODLAKE 60, STRATHMORE BOYS 51

Jorge Ibarra scored 15 points, Leonard Massey and Eddie Lurz each had 10 points and Eric Lopez added eight points to lead Strathmore.

 

PC MEN 81, MERCED 66

Porterville College (11-10, 4-2 in the Central Valley Conference) moved into a tie for second placed in the CVC with COS on Wednesday at Merced. “It’s really in our hands in terms of our destiny,” said PC coach T.J. Jennings about a top two finish in the CVC, which would clinch a state playoff berth. “Tonight was a must win. Even though we started off shaky, I was very pleased with our performance in the second half.”

PC fell behind by as many as 15 points in the first half before closing to within 36-29 at halftime, then outscored Merced 52-30 in the second half. Kameron Hoyt scored 25 points, Mikey Hidalgo had 19 points, Miguel Perez had 13 points and Jordan Wilkinson added 11 points for Porterville.

Jennings also praised the play of Donald Lee, whose penetration opened up many scoring chances for PC, and Johnathon Brown, who scored eight points. “It was a total team win,” Jennings said.

Porterville played without one of its top players, Jason Carmichael, who continues to be bothered by a sore back.

STRATHMORE JV BOYS 46, WOODLAKE 44

Cody Chapa scored 17 points, Hector Garcia had 14 points and Sam Sprague added six points to lead Strathmore’s junior varsity (8-7, 4-0). 

STRATHMORE FROSH BOYS 47, WOODLAKE 33

Drew Pearson scored 16 points and Jack Lewis added 10 points to lead Strathmore’s freshmen.