JUNIOR VARSITY B-BALL
By Ryan Eshoff
The beginning of league
play on January 4 has the JV boys basketball team working extra
hard to prepare for their fight. One look at a JV boys basketball
practice, and it would be impossible to tell that this is a team
that went 0-10 in West Catholic league play a year ago. A 3-5
record in the preseason, as well as an overwhelming experience
in league last year should prepare the boys for the remainder
of the West Catholic league season.
A 46-35 loss to Bellarmine on January 4 was very close the entire
game, and a vast improvement on last year’s 20+ point losses
to the Bells. The boys’ offense improved against the Serra
Padres, but they gave up 74 points in the 74-44 defeat. Armed
with the West Catholic’s leading scorer, St. Francis arrived
January 11. Hanging tough behind the play of Taylor Valenzuela
and Anthony Schmidt, the Warriors eventually came up short against
the sharp-shooting Lancers. Hosting the St. Ignatius Wildcats
on January 13, the Warriors hung close behind the play of Valenzuela
but it was too little too late. One inspiring aspect of the game
was the hardworking play of the bench in the waning minutes, led
by a pair of threes from Ryan Lowder.
In the third game of the co-ed sextuple header at Sacred Hear
January 15, the Warriors couldn’t keep up with the athletes
of the Fighting Irish, falling 59-33. Visiting the freshman-led
Mitty Monarchs, the Warriors were in for another tough match-up.
Playing without its two top scorers, Valenzuela and Schmidt, the
game gave other players a chance for playing time. Unfortunately,
this did not result in a win for the Warriors. Despite missing
the Mitty game, Valenzuela continues to lead the team in scoring
at 7.8 points per game.
