WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) – When county rivals Williams and Maxwell met in Mid-Valley League contests last Tuesday night, the resulting losses for the Yellowjackets exemplified the scoring difficulties they have had this season as the girls fell 29-47, while the boys came up short 33-51 in the final meeting of the season between the two teams.
Still without a victory for their efforts, the Yellowjacket girls got an 18-point, eight-rebound performance from Lupita Zuniga, but Maxwell’s defensive pressure was too much to overcome.
Zuniga also had big numbers in the Jackets’ two other games last week with two double-doubles, including 12 points and 10 rebounds against Anderson and 14 points and 12 boards in a matchup with Paradise Adventist, but Williams forfeited their game in Hamilton City on Friday night.
Meanwhile, the Panther girls, who with the win brought an end to a two-game slide, saw Ruby Herrera finish with a team-high 15 points, while Mia Gonzalez turned in a nice effort with 12 points and seven rebounds.
Maxwell concluded the week with a tough 37-40 loss in Quincy despite 19 points from Herrera.
Miyah Reyes tossed in nine points with Karina Perez pulling down nine rebounds.
In the boys’ showdown with Maxwell, baskets were hard to come by early on as the opening period ended with the Yellowjackets down 6-9.
However, while Williams could not buy a basket in the second quarter, the Panthers methodically pulled away after gaining control of the boards and from that juncture the outcome was never in doubt.
Diego Ambriz led the ‘Jackets with 13 points while Harsimran Kahlon pitched in with nine.
Yet the night belonged to the Panthers, who got a game-high 16 points from Vincent Orozco and 14 more from Tanner Vierra.
In the paint, Macklin Kuska finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Rosendo Salazar corralled nine boards.
Williams played two additional games against Paradise Adventist and Hamilton City on Feb. 4 and Feb. 6 respectively, but came out on the short end of the scores as well.
Ambriz netted 23 points and Kahlon went for 12 more in a 49-60 overtime loss to PAA, ahead of its 31-48 loss to Hamilton City.
Playing short-handed against the Braves, the ‘Jackets could never really get on track, although Ambriz tied for the game-high with 17 points.
No information from the Maxwell boys outing in Quincy was provided.
To conclude the regular season, both Yellowjacket teams made their way to Quincy on Tuesday, Esparto on Thursday and host Biggs tonight.
As for the Panthers, they traveled to Biggs on Feb. 10 and make the long drive to Portola tonight.