SOUTH COUNTY — Leads of five to 12 points kept disappearing on the host King City Mustangs in their 59-58 win against Greenfield on Feb. 14. Greenfield took the last shot of the game to give the Mustangs a scare but the attempt by Angel Espinosa just rimmed out.
“Greenfield came out ready to play and scored the first few points of the game before we were able to get a few stops and take a five point first quarter lead,” said King City head coach Jesus Ramirez. “We made a few pushes and opened a 12-point lead in the third quarter but Greenfield would come back with their own run and brought it back within six points. We rushed and forced some shots in the fourth quarter allowing Greenfield to close the deficit and get within one point.”
King City’s Cedrick Perez finished the game with 16 points and Andy Barrios added 15 points. Andres Arellano joined his teammates in double figures with 10 points. Greenfield’s Angel Villagomez scored 19 points to lead the Bruins in scoring while Oscar Villagomez and Angel Espinoza both scored 16 points.
In the season finale on Friday night, the newly crowned league champion Carmel Padres downed the host Bruins by a 88-38 score as they started out hot and took a 57-33 halftime lead. The Padres outscored Greenfield 31-6 in the final quarter of the game.
Angel Villagomez led Greenfield with 11 points, including three 3-point baskets. Angel Espinosa just missed double-figures in scoring with nine points and Oscar Villagomez scored six points with two 3-point baskets.
In the JV contest, the King City Broncos defeated the Bruin JV team 76-36 and were led in scoring by Estevan Garcia’s 35 points and Ashton Headley’s 13 points.
“We had great energy through the entire game,” said Bronco head coach Henry Ventura III. “Everyone got equal playing time and contributed evenly. Estevan Garcia definitely had the hot hand this evening with an explosive 35 points in less than three quarters of play and 21 of those points came from 3-point baskets.”
At home against the Stevenson Pirates the Broncos concluded the season with a 56-33 win over the visitors. Garcia had 20 points to lead the Broncos in scoring and Caleb Hood finished in double-figures with 16 points.
On the Friday Senior Night Game in King City the Mustangs missed two last attempts to pull out a win but fell short in the 54-53 loss to the Stevenson Pirates. The offensive attack by King City was led by seniors Perez with 16 points, Barrios with 16 points, Arellano with 12 points, and Kevin Pena with seven points.
“Stevenson led by one after the first quarter at 12-11,” said Coach Ramirez. “The second quarter was very similar but more on the defensive side as it was low scoring and Stevenson opened a four-point halftime lead. Our seniors were just not ready to give up and came out strong in the third quarter and we outscored them 21-13. We opened as much as an eight-point lead and ended the quarter leading 38-34. Just like in the game with Greenfield we rushed shots and let Stevenson close the gap and take the lead in the last minute.”
The team traded baskets and the Pirates took a one-point lead with 12 seconds to play. Barrios missed a shot then Stevenson deflected the ball out of bounds. King City’s Barrios had three seconds to score but missed on the attempt.
In the JV game the Broncos crushed the Pirates, 56-33 as Garcia led all scorers with 20 points and Hood finished with 16 points.
“Tonight’s game was bittersweet to say the least,” said Coach Ventura. “Being our last game of the season, against a strong RLS team who we beat in an exciting overtime game earlier in the season. After being tied after the first quarter of play, we were able to tighten up our defense and hold them to only two points in the second quarter, giving us a 10-point lead at the half. After exhausting the face we had only 16 minutes of play left until next season, we came out and controlled the second half and secured a 23-point victory. I am beyond proud of every single one of my players for their hard work and dedication this season. We finished 18-6 and 11-3 in league.”
