Central Valley High School's varsity boys basketball team had its seven-game winning streak snapped last week.
The playoff-bound Hawks lost 52-49 at Los Banos Friday night.
Central Valley starters Daevon Brown, Jaron Dickson, Kendel Johnson, Diego Sanchez and Parker Griffin were benched in the first quarter for failing to play with a purpose. They didn't return to the game until the fourth period.
"It was the right thing to do," Hawks head coach Darryl Dickson said. "They lacked focus and intensity. We had a long talk after the game. I'd rather get this corrected now and get ready for the playoffs. I think everything is back on track. Our practices since then have been better. No one is messing around."
Central Valley dropped to 20-6 overall and into a tie for second place in the Western Athletic Conference standings (8-3) with Patterson.
Brown scored a team-high 13 points on 5-for-15 shooting.
Johnson collected seven points.
Dickson made just 2 of 20 shots on his way to totaling five points.
Griffin tallied three points. Parker filled in for Hawk standout Ryan Donnelly, who was sidelined with an ankle injury.
Sanchez contributed two points.
Nimrat Chahal and Ja'Quan Gardner had five and four points, respectively.
Robert Preciado and Joshua Villegas both contributed three points.
Juan Manriquez and Alexis Villa chipped in with two points apiece.
Donnelly rolled his left ankle against Livingston.
"We kept Ryan out even though he could have gone," coach Dickson said. "We wanted to save him for Patterson and the playoffs."
CV 59, Livingston 41
Central Valley coasted to a 59-41 victory against host Livingston on Wednesday.
Donnelly led the Hawks with 17 points, Dickson had 13 and Johnson added 10.
Brown, Griffin and Manriquez scored seven, four and two points respectively.
Manuel Garcia had three points.
Central Valley secured its first-ever playoff berth a week earlier.
"It's a great feeling being a part of the first team to make history," Jaron Dickson said. "Every single person in the locker room has put in the same amount of hard work. If we play our best basketball all four quarters, we'll be a tough team to beat. It's going to be fun."
