By Coach Michael Usher
The Twentynine Palms boys’ basketball teams traveled to Yucca Valley on Tuesday evening and came home with two wins. Varsity secured a Desert Valley League title with a 74-36 win, and junior varsity beat the Trojans 60-48.
Varsity came into the game needing a victory to secure an outright league championship, and came home with a 74-36 win and a league title.
The Wildcats played excellent defense throughout, limiting the Trojans to fewer than 8 points in three of the four quarters.
Jacob Hueso got going early and ended up scoring a career high 33 points (on 6-9 from 3) and eight assists. Jeremiah Holmes notched another double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Wildcats improve to 16-11 overall, and 12-1 in the Desert Valley League, headed into Friday’s regular season finale against Banning. Banning handed the ’Cats their only league loss to date in early January, and the team will be looking to avenge that loss on the way into the CIF playoffs next week.
Junior varsity battled back and forth with the Trojans for the first three quarters, leading 37-34 at the end of the third. The boys came out fired up in the fourth quarter and outscored the Trojans 23-14 in the quarter on their way to a 60-48 win.
Izaiah Leopoldo led the ’Cats
with 21 points and 13 rebounds; Q Hibley made 12 points, 18 rebounds, and six blocks.
Ray Thorton and Carter Lane had nine and eight points respectively. The junior
varsity ’Cats look to finish the league season undefeated on Friday against
Banning.
Great job to both boys teams.
Yucca Valley top scorers were: Anthony Olvera with 14 points and six rebounds; Noah Roy had 10 points and seven rebounds; and Jack Melvin netted 3 points.
The Trojan junior varsity top scorers were: Kaden Bailey with 15 points; Demar Smith scored 11 points, five steals, and four rebounds; and Aidan Gamboa made 11 points, 13 rebounds, and three steals.
The Trojans will host Indio Thursday night for their last league games of the season.
