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BOYS HOOPS: Weston Ranch fends off Lancers’ charge
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East Union made a valiant run in the third quarter only for Weston Ranch to run away with it in the fourth for a 64-43 win in Valley Oak League boys basketball action Tuesday at Dalben Center.
“We need to be a little bit more consistent,” Weston Ranch coach Chris Teevan said. “This is a good lesson because no season is a one-way street up. You have to look at what the trends are and what the habits are and see if there is stuff we have to change.
“Not that I want us to play like we did tonight, but you do want to experience some of this stuff especially on the road in this league. That will prepare us for playoff basketball. But we just need better readiness to play at the start and that’s on everyone, coaches included. But you should never feel bad about winning on the road in this league.”
Seemingly in command with a 33-18 halftime lead, the Cougars (2-0 VOL, 15-1 overall) went cold in the third quarter, scoring just seven points. East Union (1-3, 10-10) caught fire with 17 points behind four 3-pointers to draw within 40-35 going into the fourth quarter.
“I am impressed with the way my guys fought coming out after halftime,” Lancers coach James Ward said. “We could have laid over down 15 and we made a run and cut it so I’m proud of that.”
Christian Cuevas (13 points) hit a pair of free throws to start the final period for East Union to come within 40-37, and then a stop gave the Lancers the ball back. East Union was poised to narrow the gap further when they committed a 10-second violation which woke up Weston Ranch.
Then the Cougars totally took over the game, going on a 15-2 run buoyed by a 19-2 advantage on the boards in the quarter.
“Our team is very limited and we were just gassed out at the end,” Ward said. “And you could see it out there. Their rotation is deeper than ours and cardio-vascular wise the kids just gassed out.
“And we probably got outrebounded by 20 rebounds in the fourth quarter with those little put-backs they got by getting right under the hoop. So, we have to find better ways to rebound because we are not as big as other teams and we are not as athletic so we have to find some way to block out and get some balls.”
Gavin Wilburn posted a double-double for Weston Ranch, scoring 11 points and grabbing 16 rebounds — five in the fourth quarter and eight off the offensive glass. The Cougars won the battle of the boards, 48-16.
“Our main objective was to crash the boards and leave our point guard back,” Wilburn said. “And I hit the offensive glass pretty hard.
“I’m hoping we can keep it going.”
The Cougars’ Donjaé Lindsey (four rebounds) led all scorers with 18 points. Teammate Quinten Booker added 13 points behind a trio of 3-pointers and Mi’Son Coilton (six rebounds, four steals, two assists, two blocks) scored 11 points, all in the fourth quarter.
“Coach ended up getting on us and we played hard,” Lindsey said. “We were taking better shots at the end than we had been.”
Parmbir Khattra led East Union with 15 points and had two of four Lancers 3-pointers in the third period.
Weston Ranch and East Union play at home Thursday night with the Cougars hosting Central Catholic and Kimball coming to Dalben Center.
 
Junior Varsity
East Union 67, Weston Ranch 50

Four Lancers reached double figures.
Zelmar Vedder and Lane Cefalu led East Union with 15 points apiece. Teammates Bryan Howe and Nav Smara added 10 points each.
Joseph Ortega and Fidel Pitts both scored 12 points for the Cougars.
 
Freshman
East Union 66, Weston Ranch 34

The Lancers held the Cougars to three points in the first quarter and four in the fourth.
Gavin Silva led the balanced East Union attack with 11 points. Gannon Anderson and Daymari Cox chipped in eight points each while Mitch Lill and Nate Rodriguez (eight rebounds) added six points apiece.