Sierra is the boys Valley Oak League basketball champion for the fourth time in as many years, and as a result of Tuesday’s 84-48 thumping of visiting Lathrop the Timberwolves are a perfect 14-0 for the second time in that same stretch.

 “We are 53-3 in league the last four years,” Sierra coach Scott Thomason said. “I think that speaks for itself. I am proud of our guys. We wanted to go 14-0 but we kept quiet about it. We had some tough games our last few games.

“We have proven that we are the best team in our league and now we are trying to prove that we are a special team, and that will be handled next week.”

The Timberwolves distributed the ball around well with all but one player scoring. Sierra (14-0 VOL, 25-2 overall) racked up 17 assists led by Daniel Wyatt (15 points, four rebounds, two steals) with six including five in the opening quarter.

“Going undefeated was a great milestone,” Wyatt said. “Every year we go for this but this year was just our year.

“We knew what we had to do and we came out from the start and worked hard – I mean we really worked hard – and we need this going into playoffs.”

Hunter Johnson (seven rebounds, three assists) had 11 of his 15 points in the first quarter that saw the Timberwolves start the game on a 14-0 run and roll to a 25-4 lead. Johnson is pleased with the league championship, but he is looking ahead as well.

“This feels great but we are not done yet,” Johnson said. “We still have playoffs.

“Tonight was a great team effort. Everyone got to play and almost everybody scored and it was a great team win.”

With Sierra starters seeing little more than two quarters of playing time, Joshua Patton (five rebounds) was the only other Timberwolves player in double figures with 11 points. Enrique Jasso came off the bench for Sierra to grab five rebounds in the fourth quarter.

Avraj Bal led the Spartans (3-11, 4-23) with 15 points followed by Yancy Ram with nine and Junior Ballard with seven.  Lathrop was missing standout Isaiah Ellis due to illness and three others for disciplinary reasons.

“We were short-handed coming in and I am really proud of the guys that played tonight because they played hard,” Spartans coach Nate McGrath said. “We have a huge disadvantage in size and depth and all I can ask is that my guys come out and play hard and give it everything they have and that is what they did.

“That is why I let my seniors play a little longer than normal tonight. This is the last time a lot of these guys will ever play and at least they can go out with their heads held high.”

The playoff pairings will be announced this evening and the Timberwolves will host a first-round opponent next Wednesday.

 

Sophomore

Sierra 61, Lathrop 52

Trailing by two points after three quarters, the Timberwolves pulled away with a 26-point fourth period.

Sierra’s Victor Elijah earned high-point honors with 18 followed by teammates Jamille Grady with 13 and Parmvir Singh with 10.

Isais Hunter led the Spartans with 17 points. Idowa Olaleye added 14 points and Adonis Payton 11.

 

Freshman

Sierra 66, Lathrop 56

Jacob Peterson led the Timberwolves to victory with 28 points, scoring 17 points in the second quarter behind four 3-pointers.

Carson Anderson added 11 points for Sierra and Oscar Pardo 10.

Colin Weis paced the Spartans with 22 points and Dan Ballisteros chipped in 10.