Sierra High opened the fourth quarter clinching a one-point lead, but by the time Eddie Andrade was finished the Timberwolves had their first home victory intact, riding Andrade’s three fourth quarter 3-pointers to a 57-49 victory.
Andrade made good on only one 3-pointer the previous three quarters, entering the fourth with only three points. That would change in a hurry when the senior guard nailed a deep three to open Sierra’s fourth quarter scoring, and continued with his hot hand hitting three’s in Sierra’s next two possessions.
“He can really shoot it,” Sierra head coach Scott Thomason said. “In our past four games he has been a little streaky and has struggled a little bit, but good shooters have to keep shooting the ball. He got some good looks; what are you going to tell him not to shoot the ball?
“I just hope he is able to continue that tomorrow night.”
Sierra (3-2) opened the game with a quick steal and fast-break that culminated with a thunderous Jerrod Patton dunk. Johansen answered immediately when its primary offensive option, Brandon Ballard (game-high 23 points, sank the first of his five 3-pointers. Sierra pushed a one-point first quarter lead to a 21-16 halftime margin, but would pick up the pace offensively over the second half.
Timberwolves center Will Ward was everything Sierra needed him to be throughout the contest, turning in a team-high 14 points to pace the club. Ward not only carried the bulk of the scoring load, he also dominated on the defensive end with a handful of blocks.
Yet, clutching the minimal lead to open the fourth, it was obvious the Timberwolves would need an offensive boost to keep pace with the Vikings and Andrade answered the call.
“I just had to get hot for my team,” Andrade said. “We wanted to bring it through, and I had to step up and be a team player.
“They were just leaving me open, so I had to shoot it with confidence.”
Edy Guzman made solid contributions for the Timberwolves, finishing in double-figures with 10 points, while sophomore Guillermo Nunez added nine. Sierra will be back on the hardwood at 5 p.m. when they travel to Lodi to take on the 3-2 Flames.
“We don’t have a long turnaround, we have to get back up and go at a very good Lodi team,” Thomason said. “We have to just forget about this one, prepare tomorrow and try to get another win.”
Andrade made good on only one 3-pointer the previous three quarters, entering the fourth with only three points. That would change in a hurry when the senior guard nailed a deep three to open Sierra’s fourth quarter scoring, and continued with his hot hand hitting three’s in Sierra’s next two possessions.
“He can really shoot it,” Sierra head coach Scott Thomason said. “In our past four games he has been a little streaky and has struggled a little bit, but good shooters have to keep shooting the ball. He got some good looks; what are you going to tell him not to shoot the ball?
“I just hope he is able to continue that tomorrow night.”
Sierra (3-2) opened the game with a quick steal and fast-break that culminated with a thunderous Jerrod Patton dunk. Johansen answered immediately when its primary offensive option, Brandon Ballard (game-high 23 points, sank the first of his five 3-pointers. Sierra pushed a one-point first quarter lead to a 21-16 halftime margin, but would pick up the pace offensively over the second half.
Timberwolves center Will Ward was everything Sierra needed him to be throughout the contest, turning in a team-high 14 points to pace the club. Ward not only carried the bulk of the scoring load, he also dominated on the defensive end with a handful of blocks.
Yet, clutching the minimal lead to open the fourth, it was obvious the Timberwolves would need an offensive boost to keep pace with the Vikings and Andrade answered the call.
“I just had to get hot for my team,” Andrade said. “We wanted to bring it through, and I had to step up and be a team player.
“They were just leaving me open, so I had to shoot it with confidence.”
Edy Guzman made solid contributions for the Timberwolves, finishing in double-figures with 10 points, while sophomore Guillermo Nunez added nine. Sierra will be back on the hardwood at 5 p.m. when they travel to Lodi to take on the 3-2 Flames.
“We don’t have a long turnaround, we have to get back up and go at a very good Lodi team,” Thomason said. “We have to just forget about this one, prepare tomorrow and try to get another win.”
