Page 11 - Dinuba Sentinel 12-7-17 E-edition

Sports
B1
Orosi gets
redemption
win against
Fowler
Sentinel staff report
Last year the Orosi High varsity girl’s soccer team had an incredible year, going 23-5 and making it all the way to the valley title game before losing to the Fowler Redcats 3-0.
So far, this year is looking like it may even be a better year for the Cardinals as they opened up the season by going 5-0, including a come from behind victory over the Redcats on Saturday to win the Fowler Soccer Tournament.
“We were definitely out there to make a statement,” said Orosi High soccer coach Sara Carter. “It was a great win for us and a real confidence booster.”
The Redcats were the Cardinal’s nemesis last year, as four of Orosi’s five losses came against Fowler, including the title game.
Saturday’s rematch was a test for both programs as they both entered the matchup at 4-0. And though the teams entered halftime all locked up at a goal apiece, it appeared the defending Div. V champion Redcats would again get the best of the Cardinals as they jumped out to a two-goal lead in the second half.
The Lady Cardinals, however, kept pressuring and managed to score three unanswered goals to steal the victory on the champ’s field.
Scoring for the Cardinals in Saturday’s championship game were freshman Melanie Davila, who scored two goals for Orosi, and sophomore Emily Gonzalez, who also scored two goals, including the game winner.
“It was amazing to see the girls come back from a 3-1 deficit,” said Carter. “They were ecstatic about the win. It proved that their hard work really does pay off and they are ready for the next challenge.”
That next challenge was once again Fowler, as they traveled to play them again on Tuesday in a non-league game. That game took place after publication.
To earn their spot in the Fowler Soccer Tournament championship game, the Lady Cardinals defeated Farmersville on Nov. 29 by a score of 9-0. They then scored another shutout against Riverdale the next day, easily defeating the Cowboys 4-0. A 1-0 victory over Caruthers then put Orosi in the championship game against Fowler.
The Cardinals bring most of their team back from last year. They return nine starters to the squad; sophomores Mireya Lua, Emily Gonzalez and Ana Pena, and juniors Marissa Quezada, Mikala Montemayor and Araceli Flores, and seniors Jackie Alberto, Karina Mondragon and Evelyn Manzo.
The team also added five freshmen to this year’s team, Stephanie Figueroa, Melanie Davila, Ashley Ruiz, Kimberly Caballero and Victoria Quevedo.
The team will travel to Kerman today for another non-league matchup. They will then travel to Corcoran on Saturday for the Corcoran Tournament.
Their next home game will be on Thursday when they host Parlier. League play will start on Jan. 9 with an away game against McFarland.
“We were definitely out there to make a statement. It was a great win for us and a real confidence booster.”
- Sara Carter, Orosi High girl’s soccer coach
Thursday, December 7, 2017 The Dinuba Sentinel High School Basketball
Dinuba opens
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
Dinuba junior Luke Rodriguez goes up for a basket during last Thursday’s home opener against Tulare Union. Rodriguez led the Emperors in scoring with 14 points in the 60-51 victory over the Tribe.
Less than a week after Dinuba High’s football team lost to Tulare Union in the title game the two schools met again, this time on the hardwood. But this time, however, it was the Emperors basketball team that walked away victorious after beating the Tribe 60-51 to open up Dinuba’s basketball season at home last Thursday.
“It feels good,” said new/returning Dinuba basketball coach Jeff Schofield. “We can play a better game but it’s always good to get the first win.”
Tulare Union took an early lead in Thursday’s matchup and went up 4-0, but Dinuba’s Nate Carrion cut their lead to one by hitting a 3-pointer from the right wing. The Emperors then closed out the first quarter by going on an 11-2 run. Five of those points were put up by sophomore Josh Magaña, who came off a Dinuba bench with plenty of depth.
“The great thing about him (Magaña) is that he gets his shot off quick,” said Schofield.
Cardinals drop home opener to Riverdale
Riverdale opened the second half with two easy buckets, including a steal and layup by Hussein, to put the Cowboys up by seven points. The steal was one of three for Hussein in the game.
Riverdale pulled out to as much as an 11-point lead towards the end of the third quarter. A floater in the paint by Orosi’s J.R. Andres and two free throws by Isaiah Villegas cut the lead to 37-29 at the end of the quarter.
The Cardinals were then able to cut the lead to five at the beginning of the fourth quarter, thanks to a long 2-pointer and free throw by Ramos, and a layup by Saigan. But Riverdale quickly retaliated by going on a 9-2 run, capped off by a 3-pointer by Hussein from the base line off an inbound pass.
Hussein finished the game with 28 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.
With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 3-3 on the season. They opened the season with a 53-42 win over Woodlake on Nov. 20. They then lost to Sierra Pacific and Reedley before getting their second win of the season, a 52-48 victory over Minarets. On Saturday, Orosi beat Lindsay 45-43.
The Cardinals are currently participating in the Kingsburg Lions Club Tournament, which began yesterday and lasts until Saturday. Wednesday Orosi will travel to Dinuba to participate in the Andrew Bedoya Holiday Classic. That tournament will be held from Dec. 13-16.
season with win
over Tulare Union
Emperors will host Mission Oak on Monday, Andrew Bedoya Holiday Classic starts Dec. 13
Dinuba then opened up the second quarter by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers, one by junior Sebastian Garza and the second by senior Elijah Mayberry. A drive to the basket by Magaña then gave the Emperors a 22-7 lead.
Emperor junior Luke Rodriguez then added another 3-pointer, banking one in from the right wing. Rodriguez, who is listed at 6’2”, nearly followed it with a dunk, but the ball bounced off the back of the rim and he was subsequently called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim.
Though Tulare missed the technical free throws, they ended up going on a 6-0 run to pull within nine points. Dinuba then put up six straight points of their own on a 3-pointer by senior Matt Angelo and 3-point conversion by junior Ray Alvarado after he was fouled on a rebound and put-back.
At the break, Dinuba led 31-21.
To open the second half, Rodriguez hit another 3-pointer, this time from the top of the key, to give the Emperors a
See Emperors, Page B6
By Rick Curiel
Sentinel staff
By Rick Curiel
Sentinel staff
Orosi High School senior Nikki Siagan led the Cardinals in scoring with 11 points in Monday night’s home opener against Riverdale. However, the Cardinals struggled to keep up with the Cowboys and lost 53-39.
The Cowboys jumped out to an early lead after hitting a 3-pointer from the left baseline to open up the game, followed by a bucket in the paint.
Orosi was finally able to get on the board with a layup scored by senior John Ramos, followed by another layup by Saigan to pull the Cardinals within one point. The Cardinals then took a one-point lead on a long inbound pass that found sophomore Jose Ramos under the basket for the easy bucket. The 6-5 lead would be the only time Orose led in the game.
Riverdale closed out the first quarter on a 10-4 run to make the score 15-10 in favor of the Cowboys.
The Cardinals then found themselves chasing the Cowboys in the second quarter, pulling within two points midway through the quarter. But a four-point play by Riverdale’s Hareez Hussein, who was fouled on a made 3-pointer from the wing, extended the Cowboy’s lead to 24-18.
Orosi then closed the gap to 25-22 to close out the half.
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
Cardinal senior Nikki Saigan goes up for two of his 11 points in Monday’s home opener against Riverdale.
Emperors wins rst home soccer game
Dinuba High senior striker Angel Serrano dribbles past a Reedley defender in the Emperor’s soccer home opener last Wednesday. Dinuba won the game 1-0 for their first victory of the season.
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
Sentinel staff report
The Dinuba Emperor’s varsity boys’ soccer team got their first victory of the season last Wednesday with a 1-0 win over visiting Reedley. Dinuba sophomore Cesar Lopez scored the Emperor’s only goal of the game in the first half and defense helped Dinuba earn the home opener victory.
As of Tuesday, the Emperors were 1-2-2 after losing a close season opener to Tulare Union 2-1 on Nov. 28. Dinuba followed their victory over Reedley with a 1-1 tie to Golden West. The team then lost 3-1 to Centennial in the Buchanan Tournament before tying 1-1 the next day to Central.
On Tuesday Dinuba hosted Mission Oak of Tulare. That game took place after publication.
This coming Tuesday, the Emperors will host Tulare Western and will hope to avenge a 4-0 loss to the Mustangs last year.
The loss was one of only three losses for Dinuba, as they finished the season 20-3-5. Their other two losses were to Edison early in the season and Salesian of Los Angeles in the state playoffs. The Emperors won league and valley last year, beating Madera South by a score of 1-0 in the Div.
III title game.
The team returns 13 seniors to the roster
this year. They are Gerardo Rodriguez, Jesus Flores, Leonel Farfan, Matthew Valle, Angel Serrano, Miguel Acosta, Bryan Valle, Ranferi Perez, Luis Calderon, Alex Chavez, Guadalupe Hernandez, Leonardo Jimenez, Victor Martinez, Ulises Ramirez and Rodriguez.
Martinez is also coming over from the Emperor’s varsity football team where he was recruited to be the teams place kicker. As the team’s place kicker, Martinez made 41 of 44 point-after attempts. He also made 2 of 5 field goals, his longest being 35 yards.