KING CITY — Fourteen alumni players showed up at the King City High gym last Friday night to challenge the Mustang varsity team for bragging rights. The current group of Mustangs were not going to be denied their moment to shine as they defeated the alumni team, 73-70.
Kevin Pena and Andy Barrios led the varsity team in scoring with 14 points apiece, followed by Angel Trujillo with 13 points and Isidro Cabrera with 11 points. The alumni team was led in scoring by David Ortiz with 10 points, followed by Addie Ramirez and Elijah Valladarez with nine points each. DeAndre Sharif, Jovany Garcia, Ralph Rianda, and Austin Erickson all contributed to the alumni effort with seven points apiece.
“We held an eight point lead at halftime,” said Mustang head coach Jesus Ramirez. “In the third quarter we were outscored by the alumni team 23-8 and found ourselves trailing by at seven at 53-46. In the last quarter we pressed the alumni full court and were able to regain the lead to finish the game with the win.”
On Dec. 18 the Mustangs defeated the host Coalinga Union Horned Toads 61-45 and were led in scoring by Cedrick Perez with 14 points, Isidro Cabrera with 13 points, and Andy Barrios with nine points.
“We led the entire game,” said Coach Ramirez. “We outscored Coalinga in every quarter and took a 32-19 halftime lead. We opened the lead to 21 points in the second half.”
Last Wednesday in King City the Pajaro Valley Grizzles beat the Mustangs 73-64. Andy Barrios had 14 points and Andres Arellano and Isidro Cabrera contributed with 10 points apiece.
“It was a close game all the way,” said Coach Ramirez. The most we trailed was by 10 points and we were able to get within three points but were held off by Pajaro Valley.”
The King City Ponies improved to 8-1 in non-league play with a 49-15 win over Coalinga and 47-23 victory over Pajaro Valley.
Trey Salcido had 13 points in the win over the Horned Toads and 16 in the win over the Grizzles.
Salcido scored 11 of his points in the Coalinga game in the first quarter to help the Ponies take a 17-3 opening quarter lead. Levi Hood scored seven of his 11 points in a 13-2 third quarter run. Joe White had a season-high 10 points, and Jonah Mendez and Devin Morales had four points apiece. Adam Cortez scored two points.
At home against Pajaro Valley Salicido scored 10 of his points in the second quarter and hood added eight of his 13 total points in the quarter as the Ponies took a 28-7 halftime lead. Morales finished with five points, including a 3-point basket. White scored a basket and Mendez added a point.
