COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Colusa’s Don Bransford Gymnasium served as the backdrop for the second regular season matchup between the RedHawks and the Bears on a night that ended with the Pierce girls holding on to win 47-43, while Colusa boys opened the game up in the second half to prevail 54-36.
In front of what may have been one of the largest assembled crowds of the season in Colusa County, both girls’ teams got off to a slow start as the score was 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
And although both squads heated up in the second period, Pierce, by controlling the glass and coming away with most of the loose balls, was able to take a 26-21 lead into the locker room at the half.
However, in the third quarter the Bears found themselves in foul trouble when leading scorer Rylie Delepierre and their top rebounder Nita Rodriguez each went to the bench having picked up their fourth.
Still, Pierce was able to end the period clinging to a 33-30 advantage.
Desperately trying to close out the game, things got dicey for the Bears down the stretch after Delepierre picked up her fifth foul with 3:26 remaining.
Following a series of Bear turnovers and inopportune shot selections, the RedHawks were back within three with 41 seconds remaining.
Yet, despite having chances and keeping the crowd on the edge of its collective seat, Colusa could get no closer.
Beating the RedHawks twice in Sacramento Valley League play was big for the Bears as head coach Dustin King explained, “I am very proud of them although I admit I was worried over the foul trouble. Mary (Doherty) and Sofia (Hernandez) stepped up and it was actually Nita that had the idea for the press break we used after watching film. It really was a total team effort though.”
Destany Martinez dropped a season high 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to record the double-double and lead Pierce.
Rodriguez cleared away 15 rebounds, Delepierre pitched in with nine points and Jaslene Condrey dished out eight assists.
.For Colusa, Peyton Miller finished with a game-high 26 points.
Following the girls contest, the boys took the court with the RedHawks looking to avenge a loss they suffered to the Bears back on Jan. 16 and did exactly that.
Close at the half with Colusa holding a 25-21 advantage, it outscored Pierce 19-6 in the third quarter to take control of the game.
Asa Selover had his best performance of the season tossing in a team-high 15 points and drawing praise from RedHawk head coach Brian Davis.
“Asa came to work and has been building up to this over the last few practices and games,” said Davis. “He brought the full package on both ends of the floor and was a great teammate.”
Cooper Ayala and Kaleb Castanon went for 12 and 10 points respectively.
Meanwhile, Damian Ambriz had a game-high 20 points for the Bears.
This week brings an end to the regular season for all four teams.
The Pierce girls (12-14, 6-4) were at Durham on Feb. 10 then returned home to face East Nicolaus tonight, while Colusa’s girls (9-16, 3-7) looked to end a three-game skid having entertained Willows on Tuesday and Winters this evening.
As for the boys, Colusa (12-13, 6-4), riding a three-game win streak, was in Willows on Tuesday and is back at home to play Winters tonight, while Pierce (9-16, 4-6) hosted Durham on Feb. 10 and hits the road to square off against East Nicolaus tonight.