The Twentynine Palms High School Wildcats basketball team have been playing in the Century High School Elks Hoops Classic in Santa Ana. The team began their play against Lawndale High School out of Inglewood Saturday, December 26. Coach Kevin Cole said after a slow start, Twentynine Palms found themselves down 3 points at the half. The Wildcats rallied in the second half, led by the shooting of Kyle Hope and D’Shaun Barrett who combined for 35 points. Ian Duhon and Abraham Bell also contributed 12 and 13 points respectively. The Wildcats finally prevailed, winning 67-52 over the Division 2 Lawndale.
Play resumed for the Wildcats on Monday, December 28, against another
Division 4A ranked team, La Salle High School, from Pasadena. It was another battle that found the Wildcats down by 7 at the half. Fantastic team defense and great shooting turned things around for the ‘Cats in the second half. This time, D’Shaun Barrett scored 25 in the second half, including hitting five 3-pointers. The Wildcats took the win, 64-57.
Twentynine Palms played Firebaugh High School Tuesday. After jumping out to a commanding 23-3 lead in the first quarter, Twentynine Palms and went into halftime up 7. Again great shooting and aggressive defense helped the Wildcats cruise to a solid 84-59 victory. Scoring was again led by D’Shaun Barrett, with 34, followed by Kyle Hope with 14. Carson Zimarik and Adam Bell both contributed eight.
Twentynine Palms will face Capistrano Valley Christian High School in the Championship game tonight at 7 p.m.
The Twentynine Palm High School Lady Wildcats soccer squad finished the 2015-2016 Pettis Memorial Cup Soccer Tournament with a record of 1-3. Coach Michael Sanchez said after opening the tournament with a shutout win over Loma Linda Academy, the ‘Cats lost hard-fought games to Aquinas, Notre Dame Riverside, and Big Bear. Senior Celeste Medina scored the first goal for Twentynine Palms, with an assist from sophomore Emma Yeager. Junior Maggie O’Brien added two more goals, one unassisted and one assisted by junior Lexie Rivera, to secure the victory. Senior goalkeeper Maranda Palmer had 12 saves in the clean-sheet performance. Junior Lahla Sison is the Wildcat of the Week.
