Leading by a point with about three and a half minutes to go,
the Live Oak High girls basketball team had a chance to end its
20-game league losing streak in its Tri-County Athletic League
opener at North Salinas last night. But the Acorns, who have never
won a TCAL girls hoops contest in the league
’s two-plus seasons, couldn’t quite pull off the big victory,
falling short by a 46-39 score.
Leading by a point with about three and a half minutes to go, the Live Oak High girls basketball team had a chance to end its 20-game league losing streak in its Tri-County Athletic League opener at North Salinas last night.
But the Acorns, who have never won a TCAL girls hoops contest in the league’s two-plus seasons, couldn’t quite pull off the big victory, falling short by a 46-39 score.
“We just couldn’t hold on,” LO coach Jeff Perkins said.
But it wasn’t for lack of determination. Down by 14 early in the game, the Acorns rallied to take the lead at 34-33 on Megan Gulla’s 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
“We were making our shots and it got contagious for about 10 minutes there,” Perkins said.
LO’s Analise Curley led the team in scoring with nine points, and Nikki Clancy added seven.
The Acorns fell to 3-11 overall (0-1 in TCAL). They host Salinas on Thursday at 7pm.
LO boys basketball
A lack of height, projected to be a problem for the Live Oak High boys basketball team this season, didn’t take long to hurt the Acorns in TCAL play.
Right out of the gate, in their league opener against visiting North Salinas on Thursday night, the Acorns found themselves with no answer for Viking big men Marco Ramos and Eric Petty.
Seniors Ramos (20) and Petty (14) combined for 34 points to send LO to a 55-53 loss. The 6-5 book-end forwards repeatedly crashed the offensive glass and dominated inside the paint in the contest, leaving LO coach Brett Paolucci shaking his head in frustration.
“What stands out in my mind is the offensive rebounds,” We made them force some shots with our defense but we have to get the rebound after a bad shot. We wanted to pack it in and force them to play outside but they’re aggressive guys on the boards. If we get three more defensive stops, we win.”
Despite the Ramos-Petty heroics, LO hung close for much of the game and gave itself a shot at sending the game into overtime in the dwindling seconds.
After Doug Porras’ layin got the Acorns to within two points with 17 seconds left, North Salinas missed three free throws in the finals seconds to give LO its chance.
With six seconds left, LO’s Matt van Keulen drove the lane and attempted a runner over Ramos that bounced around and out.
“It was a great look but the game didn’t come down to that,” Paolucci said. “I’m just really happy we were able to compete. It looked for a while there like they had everything going their way. but we were able to cut down on their lead and give ourselves a chance. It’s going to be that kind of battle every night in this kind of league.”
LO ran out to a 10-4 lead early in the game, but North Salinas assumed control in the second quarter and led by as many as six points in the third quarter.
The Acorns rallied to tie the game at 41-41 on an 8-2 run, including 3s from Porras and van Keulen, to end the third quarter.
Van Keulen led the way with 18 points for the Acorns, and Kevin Toombs added 14.
The LO boys fell to 9-7 overall (0-1 in TCAL). They play at Salinas on Wednesday at 7pm.
LO wrestling
In its TCAL opener on Wednesday, the LO wrestling team got three pins in four victories but fell short in a 54-23 loss at Salinas.
Acorn wins came from Hondo Dominguez (pin at 119), Jason Hendersen (technical fall at 125), Mitch Haaser (pin at 152) and Jon Redmond (pin at 171).
LO was forced to forfeit four weight classes due to a short roster, according to Coach Robert Fernandez.
