Live Oak snapped a seven-game slide with a 51-50 triumph
SAN JOSE — With their freshman sensation, Fa Saulala, injured for most of the second half Thursday at Yerba Buena, the Lady Acorns’ bench stepped up to help nail down a confidence-boosting win.
Sophomore post Danielle Horning led the reserves, hauling in several key rebounds to go with her four points, Jacey Turay netted a season-high 19 points, and Live Oak snapped a seven-game slide with a 51-50 triumph.
“I think that’s exactly what they needed,” Acorns coach Jeff Perkins said Friday. “We’re hoping to build on that and get this season back on track.
“I’ve always believed in them. They can do some good things with their talent and work ethic. I’m looking forward to having two homes games next week.”
Live Oak (3-9 overall, 1-3 league) clinched it by forcing a turnover on Yerba Buena’s final possession.
The rest of the West Valley Division matchup was just as intense. The Aztec Warriors (0-11, 0-4) threatened to take control late in the second quarter when they went ahead by five points. Turay answered with a 3-pointer — one of three on the night for the senior post — to make the score 25-23 at halftime.
Saulala, who came into the game leading her team in points (87) and rebounds (117), sprained an ankle midway through the game, leaving the already short-handed Acorns with eight players. Saulala managed nine points.
Live Oak trailed 39-38 after the third quarter before rallying in the fourth.
“It was an exciting game. The girls really hung in there,” Perkins said. “One of our girls was sick, so we finished the game with people that don’t usually get quality minutes. They showed a lot. It was the first time we’ve scored 50 points or more this season.”
Starting point guard Meghan Perez played the entire second half to finish with seven points, and senior post Ariana Guerrero scored 10 for Live Oak.
Bianca Manto and Kitty Kha poured in 21 points apiece to lead Yerba Buena.
Sobrato drops ninth straight
Evergreen Valley parlayed a 29-point first quarter into a 71-30 victory Thursday over the injury-depleted Lady Bulldogs.
Raquel Orosa scored a dozen points to lead the host Cougars (8-6 overall, 3-1 Mount Hamilton Division), who made nine 3-pointers.
Sobrato sophomore Jessica Westall totaled a career-high 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Freshman Alyssa Firato added 10 for the Bulldogs (3-11, 0-4).
BOYS SOCCER
SHS heating up
Jovani Franco and Austin Jackson netted two goals apiece, and Kimanni Shannon added a score Thursday as Sobrato earned a second consecutive victory: 5-1 over struggling Piedmont Hills.
Cesar Arellano, Shawn Henner and Scott Henningsen provided assists for the host Bulldogs (3-2-4, 2-1-1), who are making headway in the Santa Teresa Division following a six-game winless streak. They strung together victories for the first time since winning three straight from Dec. 18 to Jan. 8 last winter. Jackson leads the team with five goals.
Piedmont Hills fell to 0-7 and 0-4.
LO still unbeaten in league
Though they won twice in their first 10 matches, the Acorns are still very much in the hunt for the West Valley crown.
They remained unbeaten in the division Thursday, receiving goals by Ben Hartl and Dylan Frechette to tie Evergreen Valley 2-2 in San Jose.
Unbeaten in seven straight, Live Oak (2-2-6, 2-0-2) led 2-1 at halftime before the Cougars (0-4-5, 0-1-3) scored the equalizer.
Hartl and Alejandro Diaz had assists for the Acorns.
Wrestling results coming later
