STOCKTON — Hunter Johnson and Josh Patton accounted for 36 points and 28 rebounds to lead Sierra to a 69-54 win over host McNair in non-league boys basketball action.

“I thought Patton and Hunter did a good job of controlling the boards and they scored inside when we needed to,” Timberwolves coach Scott Thomason said. “But you have to give McNair a lot of credit; they came out scrappy and are very competitive.”

Sierra (2-0) started the game on an 11-2 run and ran the lead up to a 26-14 second-period advantage before the Eagles (0-2) went on a 9-2 spurt and closed the half down by just two, 34-32.

McNair took the lead briefly at the start of the second half on a long-range 3-pointer by Desmond Bague, but six third-quarter rebounds by Johnson helped shut down the Eagles threat.   

McNair hit 10 from behind the arc to four for Sierra (2-0).

“They made a lot of 3-pointers,” Thomason said. “They made some tough shots. A guy pulled up to start the second half and hit what looked like a 30-footer.

“We had a 26-14 lead in the first half and did not show any killer instinct.”

The Timberwolves had 50 rebounds to just 23 for the Eagles. Johnson led all rebounders with 15 and earned high-point honors at 19.

“We knew boards were going to be a big thing,” Johnson said. “We just went out there and did what we are coached to do – get up above the rim and bring down almost every ball we can.”

With playing time cut short by foul trouble, Patton still put up 17 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.

“It was a tough game,” Patton said. “They were getting after us and they closed in on our score so we knew that we had to work hard and that is what we did.”

Jess Spivey added 12 points and five rebounds for Sierra, Devin Nunez eight points and four rebounds and Daniel Wyatt six points and three rebounds.

 

Sophomore

Sierra 44, McNair 27

The score was tied 17-17 at halftime.

Individual statistics were not available.

 

Freshman

Sierra 44, McNair 35

Andrew Olivas hit two 3-pointers for Sierra and scored 10 points with teammate Oscar Pardo adding nine points.