Greg Mathews' 3-pointer gave Central Valley High School's varsity boys basketball team a surprising 17-9 lead over heavily-favored Sonora with 1:16 to play in the first quarter.
The Wildcats responded with a momentum-swaying 21-1 run in the final nine-plus minutes of the opening half and rolled to a 59-36 victory over the Hawks in Valley Oak League action Friday night in Ceres.
"I didn't expect us to lose like that," said Mathews, Central Valley's standout junior forward. "We played hard and aggressive in the first quarter. We couldn't finish. That's the disappointing part."
Greg had nine of his team-high 15 points in the opening eight minutes.
Sonora made a tactical adjustment in the second quarter and limited the Hawks to just one point.
"They made a great call by switching from man to zone defense," said Central Valley head coach Darryl Dickson, whose team faced a 30-18 deficit at intermission. "We stopped looking inside for Greg and David (Griffin). We took way too many outside shots. That's what turned the tide of the game."
Mathews was held without a basket for 19-plus minutes.
"I tried to find open shots," he said.
None of Greg's teammates scored in double figures during the course of the game.
Griffin tallied six points. Gary Ney added four points. Brian Blunt, Ryan Sandner and Tyree Jones all contributed three points. Hector Jacobo and Nate Villegas each had one point.
Central Valley will battle crosstown rival Ceres High (3-3) on Friday at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium. The contest will get underway at 7:15 p.m.
The Hawks beat the Bulldog twice in VOL play last season.
The Wildcats responded with a momentum-swaying 21-1 run in the final nine-plus minutes of the opening half and rolled to a 59-36 victory over the Hawks in Valley Oak League action Friday night in Ceres.
"I didn't expect us to lose like that," said Mathews, Central Valley's standout junior forward. "We played hard and aggressive in the first quarter. We couldn't finish. That's the disappointing part."
Greg had nine of his team-high 15 points in the opening eight minutes.
Sonora made a tactical adjustment in the second quarter and limited the Hawks to just one point.
"They made a great call by switching from man to zone defense," said Central Valley head coach Darryl Dickson, whose team faced a 30-18 deficit at intermission. "We stopped looking inside for Greg and David (Griffin). We took way too many outside shots. That's what turned the tide of the game."
Mathews was held without a basket for 19-plus minutes.
"I tried to find open shots," he said.
None of Greg's teammates scored in double figures during the course of the game.
Griffin tallied six points. Gary Ney added four points. Brian Blunt, Ryan Sandner and Tyree Jones all contributed three points. Hector Jacobo and Nate Villegas each had one point.
Central Valley will battle crosstown rival Ceres High (3-3) on Friday at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium. The contest will get underway at 7:15 p.m.
The Hawks beat the Bulldog twice in VOL play last season.
