For the second time in as many games, the Weston Ranch Cougars’ found themselves on the wrong end of a two-point loss, falling to host Vallejo High 77-75 Saturday.

Weston Ranch (0-2) fell in its season opener by a basket to Berkeley High and saw the disheartening showing coupled with its loss to Vallejo. The Cougars were knotted 33-33 at the half, but came out of the intermission lackadaisical and got outscored by Vallejo 30-13.

“We had a difficult time stopping their penetration,” Weston Ranch head coach Ryan Bono said. “They were able to get to the basket and we did nothing on the defensive glass, giving them too many second chance opportunities.”

Weston Ranch found its resiliency in the final period, resorting to a full-court press for the first time on the young season, mustering a comeback by outscoring Vallejo 27-14. The Cougars were able to close the lead to a single basket in the game’s waning moments, but Weston Ranch would get no closer.

“We went to a full-court press and were able to create some turnovers and get right back into the game,” Bono said of the teams tenacious fourth quarter. “It is just a matter of us playing together as a team for 32 minutes.”

Dylan Alexander led the Cougars with 23 points and five assists, while senior Andre Beard finished with 18 and five rebounds. Daiveon Leverett added his second double-double of the year, scoring 14 points and collecting 11 rebounds.

Weston Ranch will be back on the hardwood Wednesday when they meet up with Lodi High in the Edison Holiday Hoop Classic in Stockton.