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Tiger hoopsters to take on familiar foe Hanford West in CIF Division II playoff game Friday
The Tigers, 18-6, beat Hanford West 70-53 in a Dec. 4 matchup.
Hanford Finale
Lemoore’s varsity boys’ basketball team last week held a 40-25 halftime lead over the Hanford Bullpups and appeared to be rolling to a perfect 10-0 West Yosemite League season and a first-round bye in the upcoming Central Section playoffs.
But that’s not how Lemoore and Hanford games usually go. This annual pairing, particularly in the final league contest, has been anything but ordinary. The decades have seen – on both sides – numerous upsets, many decided by last-second shots.
(Lemoore High School has, in fact, earned a bye for the first round. The Tigers will play Hanford West on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in Lemoore at West Hills College Golden Eagle Arena)
Despite surrendering a 15-point Tiger lead at the half, the Bullpups, behind the 19-point effort of Hanford’s Cesar Mota, stormed back to edge the Tigers 62-60, handing Lemoore its first league defeat. Mota got help from Dairen Jeffries 13 points and Carson Verhoeven’s 12 points.
Despite the loss, Lemoore had already easily wrapped up the WYL title and will most likely have a bye this week in the first round of playoffs. Lemoore fell to 9-1 in the WYL and are 18-6 overall. Hanford fell to 5-5 in the league and 15-10 overall.
In Wednesday’s game in Hanford, Lemoore took an early 19-12 first-quarter lead, sparked by Damien Goudeau’s eight points and Jonathan Mora’s 13 first-half points. Mora led all scorers with 22 points, including a pair of three-point baskets in a torrid fourth quarter.
Tiger Coach Joel Sligh told The Leader that his team will probably open the playoffs in Lemoore and will likely have a first-round bye. He added that because of an upcoming wrestling tournament, the Tigers might have to play at West Hills College Lemoore.
Despite the loss, Sligh is looking forward to the playoffs. “It’s been a season of having a team full of players where everyone contributes and yet every night has seemed to be someone’s turn to step up big in a different way,” he said. “I believe that we have enough of the key pieces to play deep into the playoffs.”
Lemoore’s girls fell in their season-ending game, dropping a 68-22 contest to visiting Hanford on Tuesday night. Lemoore fell to 10-14 overall and 3-7 in the WYL and will miss the playoffs. The Tigers held it close in the first quarter falling behind 15-10, but from then on Hanford outscored Lemoore 53-12 easily gaining the advantage.
