SOUTH COUNTY — The Greenfield Bruins boys basketball team could not hold on to an early lead and lost 85-61 to the visiting King City Mustangs on Jan. 23 in the Greenfield High gym.
The Bruins had a six-point lead after the first quarter, and built their advantage to double-digits in the second quarter only to see the Mustangs finish with their own run to trail 36-32 at the end of the first half.
“We trailed in the second quarter but were able to finish the half playing well,” said King City head coach Jesus Ramirez. “In the third quarter we picked up our game defensively and offensively.”
The second half was all Mustangs, as the visitors outscored the Bruins 53 to 25 in the second half. King City center Andy Barrios led the Mustang attack with 19 points and Cedric Perez contributed with 16 points. Gabriel Ortiz and Angel Trujillo joined their King City teammates in double-figures with 13 and 10 points respectively.
Greenfield’s Angel Villagomez scored a game-high 26 points, including five 3-point shots and finished with seven rebounds. Angel Espinosa scored seven points, with seven rebounds and five assists, Agustin Pantoja scored seven points with three rebounds, and Andrew Trujillo contributed with two 3-point baskets for six points.
“I felt we had a good strategy going in,” said Bruins head coach Adam Barsenas. “We just couldn’t keep it up for four quarters. We played a great first half and imploded in the third quarter.”
In the JV game, the King City Broncos beat the Bruin JV’s 64-13. Adalberto Madrid led the Broncos with 10 points.
“We came out with lots of energy and played great team basketball,” said Bronco head coach Henry Ventura III. “Eleven of our 13 players added points to the stat sheet.”
At Pebble Beach on Thursday the Mustangs fell 75-60 to the host Pirates. Perez scored 15 points to lead King City, including 12 points in the fourth quarter with four of five 3-point baskets to end the game. Andres Arellano joined Perez in double figures with 10 points.
The Broncos had to go into overtime to beat the Pirates, by a 59-53 score. Caleb Hood scored 16 points for the winning Broncos.
“We had a really slow start by only putting up 17 points in the first half,” said Coach Ventura. “My guys came out with a new energy in the second half and we were able to secure the win. We are now 6-1 in league.”
The KC Ponies are 4-0 in the MTAL and 17-2 overall as they defeated the Pirate frosh, 60-40. Levi Hood led the way with 16 points and Trey Salcido joined him in double-figures in scoring with 14 points. Contributing with points were: Rafa Valdez with eight points on a six of seven free-throw shooting night, Devin Morales had seven points with one 3-point basket, and Adam Cortez and Joe White scored six points apiece.
“Just an excellent free-throw shooting game,” said Pony coach Ken Kline. “We were fourteen of sixteen to finish at 87 percent.”
The King City teams continued league play with a game on Monday at Carmel, a home game today against the Soledad Aztec teams, and a game on Friday at Pacific Grove.
Last Friday in Carmel the host Padres beat the Bruins by an 81-32 score. Espinosa led the Bruins in scoring with 11 points and had three rebounds.
The Mission Trail Athletic League schedule continues for the Bruins with a game at Soledad (Monday), a home game tonight with Pacific Grove, and a game on Friday in Morgan Hill against the Oakwood Hawks.
