Sports
Locals Finish First Round with Mixed Results
Nogales and Diamond Ranch Boys Basketball wins their matchups; Walnut, Diamond Bar loses. Nogales Soccer and Walnut girls' soccer also win
LA PUNTE – As the first round of the playoffs wind up, Locals participating all completed their matchups, with mixed results.
The Nogales boy’s basketball team is on a five-game winning streak to end its regular season. They picked up the co -league championship and earned a playoff berth. That streak continued, as they won their first playoff game 53-48 against Acaciawood Academy.
“I think being overlooked all season motivated them,” coach Victor Leano said. “I think we hit our stride during league, but the losses (in league) we had refocused us and that momentum carried on.”
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The game was close throughout, with neither team being able to get a lead greater than one or two points. Nogales was able to break the game open by winning the second period 17-10.
Senior point guard Issac Garcia led the Nobles (16-13) with 16 point, four assists, two rebounds and a blocked shot. He scored seven of his points and three of his assists during the pivitol second quarter. Jayden Salas chipped in 14 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Gilbert Guillan added seven points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal.
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Leano credit his team’s commitment to defense as a factor of why the prevailed.
“Tonight was a good example. We were struggling to get going offensively, but we made all the necessary stops that was needed to close the game it. In fact it was expected of them.”
“We beat teams a lot of people think we couldn’t. I don’t think we were ranked any time during the year, yet here we are in the playoffs,” Leano added.
Vincent Chiang led all scorers with 20 points, six rebounds, two steals and an assist, including all of his teams’ points in the second quarter. Asfan added 11 points and a steal for the visitors (9-15).
Nogales dropped its second round matchup against Riverside Notre Dame 75-63, ending its season at 16-14.
OTHER SCORES:
BOYS BASKETBALL
Div 1 Rancho Verde 66, Walnut 48
Div 2AA Oak Park 70, Diamond Bar 45
BOYS SOCCER
Div 4 Dunn 3, Diamond Bar 1
Div 5 Nogales 1, LaCanada 0
Div 6 Costa Mesa 2, Walnut 1
