In local sports, the three Yucca Valley High School boys’ basketball teams hosted Banning High School yesterday. All three teams came away with victories. The varsity Trojans won 59-58.
Coach Matt Jennings said the varsity team was trailing for the majority of the game and were even down by 14 points with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter. With a stellar defensive effort and some key shots, they kept themselves in the game; Braden Brimhall hit a three-pointer to put the Trojans up 57-56 with 30 seconds to go. Banning hit a two-pointer to go up 58-57 with 7 seconds to play but missed the free throw from the foul line.
Junior Rodriguez rebounded the missed free throw, drove the length of the floor passed the ball to Eli Roy and he hit the game winner with no time left, to win the game, 59-58. Jennings said the crowd and the cheerleaders really helped keep the gym rocking. The Trojans outscored the Banning Broncos 22-6 in the fourth quarter.
Top scorers were: Junior Rodriguez, 17 points and seven rebounds; Noah Roy, 9 points and five rebounds; Braden Brimhall and Luke Yakimow both scored eight points; and although Eli Roy only scored three points, two of them were from the shot that won the game.
The junior varsity team won 67-34. Coach Jon Price said the effort was led by Tayten Shartel (with 12 points and six steals) and Jehu Jimenez (10 points, four steals, four assists). It was also another strong defensive effort by the Trojans.
The frosh-soph team won 50-35. Coach Ernesto Gamboa said that his team really had a tough first half but came out in the second half ready to play. They outscored the Broncos 37-14 in the second half to pull out the victory. Top scorers were Demar Smith, with 19 points, and eight steals; Tua Kakalia, with 13 points and 13 rebounds; and David Jimenez, 7 points.
