Tiger boys beat Sanger at Kings Classic then fall in Holiday Invitational Tourney

Lemoore hoped to use some of that momentum as they traveled to Fresno for the start of the Holiday Invitational Tournament, which started Wednesday, Dec. 18. Unfortunately Lemoore dropped its opener 77-53 to Roosevelt High.

The Tigers fell behind early in the game and never recovered, trailing 46-30 at the half. C.J. Johnson, Lemoore’s all-league performer, scored 19 points to lead his squad, but it just wasn’t enough as the Tigers fell to 2-4 on the season.

Arthur Madison had eight points while Chris Garcia shipped in with seven points.

The Tigers rebounded on Friday, beating Madera 79-63.

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The Kings County Basketball Classic fields some of the best teams in the Valley, and Lemoore’s Tigers are finding that out. On Friday, Lemoore, after defeating San Joaquin Memorial 55-50 on Thursday and dropping a 69-63 game to Clovis High Wednesday night, ran up against a talented Edison High squad which defeated the Tigers 90-62.

Lemoore fell to 1-4 on the young season, including a season-opening loss to Fresno High 83-52.

The Tigers were scheduled to play Sanger High today (Saturday).

In Friday’s game Lemoore actually led their Tiger counterparts in the third quarter but watched as Edison outscored Lemoore 51-19 in the second half to knock the Tigers out of the title hunt for the championship.  Jordon Honeywood led the Tigers with 13 against Edison.

Against Memorial, in the Tigers’ win, Erick Perry led the Tigers with 10 points while Honeywood contributed nine points and seven rebounds.

In the Tigers’ Classic opener on Wednesday, despite 17 points from C.J. Johnson, Lemoore fell to Clovis 69-63 in a game that could have gone either way. Alan Perryman contributed nine points while Honeywood chipped in with five.

Trailing 62-44 at the end of three quarters, Lemoore mounted a furious comeback, outscoring Clovis 19-7 to cut the game at the end.

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It must be winter. There is a chill in the air and as the temperature drops, the threat of fog looms over the San Joaquin Valley. The winter frost and the frigid air can mean only one thing - it must be basketball season.

All across the country high school boys and girls are pounding the hardwood, dribbling behind the back, tossing the perfect passes, and exulting at the thrilling sound of a basketball piercing a nylon net. Nowhere is that sound more prevalent that at Lemoore High School where Coach Joel Sligh’s defending West Yosemite League champs prepare for what promises to be a demanding season.

Lemoore, which finished in a tie at the top with Mt. Whitney last March with a 9-3 league record, isn’t going to have it as easy this year, not that last year’s assault on the crown was a walk in the park. The Tigers finished 17-11 overall behind the superb play of Ty Oakes, C.J. Johnson and others. Oaks is gone, but Johnson, a WYL First Team All-League player, is back for another run at a championship.

“I feel it’s going to be crowded at the top,” said Sligh, in his third year at the helm of the Tiger varsity boys’ team. “It’s going to be one of those years when it may come down to the last game.”

The Tigers also scored a pair of league wins over their long-time nemesis, Hanford. The Tigers won their Central Section playoff opener before falling to Garces 65-49 in the second round.

Of course Johnson, a 6-4 senior, is expected to lead the Tigers in 2013-14. He is the only starter returning from last year’s championship squad. The talented Johnson hit the shots when they counted most and will be expected to do so again.

Sligh also has a pair of returning seniors, both of whom saw considerable playing time last season. He expects Chris Garcia, a small forward and Eric Perry, a guard to help control the tempo of the game and get the ball to Johnson.

Another returning player is senior Jordon Honeywood, who at a muscular 6-4, was a menace on the boards last year and is expected to complement Johnson in the front court. “He got some good quality playing time last year,” said Sligh.

Juniors Arthur Madison and Michael Burke will get plenty of minutes at guard and forward respectively. “Arthur can really handle the ball well and is aggressive,” Sligh said.

Lemoore will play the annual Foundation game Friday night at Fresno High as they open their season.