STOCKTON — Sierra took advantage of the undersized court at Venture Academy on Thursday and forced eight first-quarter turnovers that held Leroy Greene Academy to just three first-period points.
The Timberwolves rolled to a 50-40 opening-round win to open the Venture Academy Tournament. Sierra faces either West of Tracy or Mesa Verde of Citrus Heights in a semifinal tilt tonight at 6:30 p.m.
“I think that defense is part of our identity right now,” Timberwolves coach Eddie Morales said. “Not so much to force turnovers, but if they come to us, we are going to take them and that will lead to a lot of our offense. We have been preaching that, but we have been more focused on getting stops. The turnovers are part our defense and part them rushing their shots.”
Sierra tallied nine of its 15 steals in the first half when the Lions (1-2) had problems with the defensive pressure from the Timberwolves (2-2), trailing 24-11 at halftime.
Leroy Green battled back from a 15-point deficit early in the third quarter to bury a pair of 3-pointers as part of an 8-0 run to start the final period to cut the Sierra lead to 40-35. The Timberwolves bounced back with an 8-0 run of their own with a pair of field goals by Daniel Rushing and two more from Tim Sarginson (nine points, five rebounds, three steals) to put Sierra ahead 48-35 with 2:32 left in the game.
The Timberwolves’ Anthony Grady and Rushing led all scorers with 11 points each. Grady drained three 3-pointers.
“I feel I could have played better,” Grady said. “Obviously, I wasn’t making a lot of layups but my outside shots were falling.”
In addition to 11 points, Rushing pulled in five rebounds with three steals and an assist.
“I had to help get the team moving so they could play their hardest,” Rushing said. “And I had to play my hardest too.”
“If we play hard, my whole team will eat.”
Sierra’s Jack Cunial finished with seven points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal and Joshua Seals scored six points.
Bryce Buchanon (four rebounds, steal) and Nicholas Fletcher led the Lions with 10 points apiece. Jamare Mitchell-Bragg added seven points with 11 rebounds and a steal.
