West Hills Lemoore basketball: Lady Eagles ease past Bakersfield; men routed by Fresno City College in CVC hoops action

Thursday’s 6 p.m. contest began just moments after the Lady Golden Eagles won their opener against Bakersfield in a game that started at 4 pm. The Eagles improved to 4-9 with the 56-49 victory over visiting Bakersfield.

The men’s team fell to 0-13 on the season while Coach Andrea Picchi’s squad improved to 4-9 on the year. The Lady Golden Eagles take on Reedley Wednesday night (Jan. 9) while the men go looking for their first win on Saturday with a game at Columbia College.

West Hills College Lemoore's Bryce Hernandez blocks a shot by Fresno City College's Ethan Richardson in the first half of Thursday's basketball game with Fresno City College.

Gary Feinstein/Feinsteinfotos

In the men’s game, the result was surprising considering the Eagles solid first half play. Coach Donnye Ross’s team, fielding just six players, played mostly toe-to-toe with Fresno City much of the first half, even leading at one point 22-21 midway through the opening stanza.

But Fresno City, fielding a full team and loads of talent, chipped away in the final few minutes of the first half and led 39-24.

From that point on things fell apart for the Golden Eagles as Fresno romped to the decisive victory.

Dylan Gonzalez led the Golden Eagles with 17 points while Tyler Fields chipped in with 16. Lemoore High grad Bryce Hernandez scored nine points in the disappointing loss.