WESTON RANCH — As predicted, the East Union High boys varsity basketball game at Weston Ranch Wednesday was an up-and-down, high-scoring affair.
“I only hoped that we did most of the scoring,” said Lancers coach Brett Lewis following the 87-67 loss to the Valley Oak League champion Cougars.
Weston Ranch (13-0, 23-2 overall) got the better part of a game marked by 11 first-half lead changes and four ties.
“Rebounding was the key,” Cougars coach Ryan Bono said. “Once we controlled the boards, we were able to hold (East Union) to one shot and score on transition.”
East Union (8-5, 14-10) trimmed Weston Ranch’s 12-point cushion in the second half to five thanks to Brandon Cline’s 3-point basket at 5:53 in the fourth.
The Cougars quickly answered back with Melvin Allen’s basket followed by a one-handed, break-away dunk by Dylan Alexander, who finished with 22 points and four assists.
From there, Weston Ranch closed out with a 17-6 run.
The Cougars opened their final home game of the regular season by starting an exclusive senior lineup.
“This was part of a senior night tradition,” said Bono, who went with Tau Cavil, E.J. Allen, Ladra Befford, Camron Turner and Melvin Allen at the tip-off.”I want to continue it.”
East Union got off to a 9-2 start, getting a trey from Jordan Kron and a fastbreak basket from Brock Swift.
The Lancers also moved the ball around, with TeeJay Gordon finding Kron alone for the spot-up 3.
Andre Beard led Weston Ranch on a 10-2 run early in second, scoring a pair of hoops to go along with the two assists to Zerrion Payton and Daiveon Leverett, respectively.
East Union battled back, getting key baskets from Cline, Kron, Alex Del Real and Robert Vaughn.
Down 31-30, the Cougars went ahead for good shortly before the intermission, outscoring the Lancers, 13-6.
East Union sputtered early in the third quarter.
“We weren’t getting back (on defense) and we didn’t box out on the boards,” said Lewis. “Those little things came back to bite us.”
Kron led the Lancers with 22 points while Vaughn, who had nine rebounds, and Gordon finished with 12 and 11, respectively. Del Real added eight.
The Lancers, meanwhile, relied on balanced scoring.
Besides Alexander, Payton had 20 and Melvin Allen chipped in with 16. Beard finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
“I only hoped that we did most of the scoring,” said Lancers coach Brett Lewis following the 87-67 loss to the Valley Oak League champion Cougars.
Weston Ranch (13-0, 23-2 overall) got the better part of a game marked by 11 first-half lead changes and four ties.
“Rebounding was the key,” Cougars coach Ryan Bono said. “Once we controlled the boards, we were able to hold (East Union) to one shot and score on transition.”
East Union (8-5, 14-10) trimmed Weston Ranch’s 12-point cushion in the second half to five thanks to Brandon Cline’s 3-point basket at 5:53 in the fourth.
The Cougars quickly answered back with Melvin Allen’s basket followed by a one-handed, break-away dunk by Dylan Alexander, who finished with 22 points and four assists.
From there, Weston Ranch closed out with a 17-6 run.
The Cougars opened their final home game of the regular season by starting an exclusive senior lineup.
“This was part of a senior night tradition,” said Bono, who went with Tau Cavil, E.J. Allen, Ladra Befford, Camron Turner and Melvin Allen at the tip-off.”I want to continue it.”
East Union got off to a 9-2 start, getting a trey from Jordan Kron and a fastbreak basket from Brock Swift.
The Lancers also moved the ball around, with TeeJay Gordon finding Kron alone for the spot-up 3.
Andre Beard led Weston Ranch on a 10-2 run early in second, scoring a pair of hoops to go along with the two assists to Zerrion Payton and Daiveon Leverett, respectively.
East Union battled back, getting key baskets from Cline, Kron, Alex Del Real and Robert Vaughn.
Down 31-30, the Cougars went ahead for good shortly before the intermission, outscoring the Lancers, 13-6.
East Union sputtered early in the third quarter.
“We weren’t getting back (on defense) and we didn’t box out on the boards,” said Lewis. “Those little things came back to bite us.”
Kron led the Lancers with 22 points while Vaughn, who had nine rebounds, and Gordon finished with 12 and 11, respectively. Del Real added eight.
The Lancers, meanwhile, relied on balanced scoring.
Besides Alexander, Payton had 20 and Melvin Allen chipped in with 16. Beard finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
