On Wednesday night the Twentynine Palms boys’ basketball team hosted the Ramona High School Rams in the first round of the Division 4A playoffs at Richard Casey Memorial Gymnasium. The Desert Valley League champion Wildcats overcame a slow start with stifling second-half defense, and came away with a 54-32 victory.
Coach Michael Usher said a competitive first half saw the ’Cats with a 28-20 halftime lead. To open the second half, the Wildcats turned up the defensive pressure and began feeding senior Israel Goldsmith and junior Jeremiah Holmes, who punished the visiting Rams for 14 of the team’s 16 points in the quarter. Holmes and Goldsmith again dominated the fourth quarter, scoring eight of the team’s 10 points. The Wildcat defense held their opponent to 12 total second half points, grinding out a decisive victory that sends them the Sweet 16.
Senior point forward Carson Estrada ran the show for the Wildcats, doing everything that the team needed to remain in control of this game throughout. Estrada finished with a double-double, recording 11 assists and 10 rebounds, and repeatedly controlled the pace and tempo of the Wildcat offense, feeding the big men inside and work with guards Jacob Hueso, Josh Herne, and Izaiah Leopoldo to turn up the pressure on the defensive end.
Goldsmith ended the game with 23 points, 20 rebounds, and six blocks, while Holmes finished with 12 points and nine assists.
The Wildcats will be traveling to Lakeside High School on Friday night to play the 13th ranked Lancers. Game time and ticketing information to be determined.
TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL WINS 1ST ROUND CIF MATCH
