It's been an up and down year for local sports

The boys’ team went up against what is turning into a big rivalry with Garces High School. The Rams, the past few years, have definitely had the Tigers’ number as they again defeated Lemoore Thursday night in Bakersfield in the Central Section Division II playoffs.

Lemoore, despite the loss, completed a winning season under head coach Joel Sligh. The local high school has always had a solid basketball program and Sligh continues that tradition.

The same can be said of the Lemoore ladies, who also felt the sting of a playoff loss Friday night, losing to Tulare Western. The ladies also ended the season with a winning mark under first-year interim coach Jennifer Anderson, a former Tiger basketball star herself and no stranger to LHS championships.

The really positive outcome in basketball this year occurred across Highway 41 where the West Hills College Lemoore women’s team, in only its second year of existence, challenged for the Central Valley Conference championship. They ended up short, but gave perennial powerhouses like Fresno City College and others real challenges this year.

The Golden Eagles also finished with a winning record under second-year head coach Andrea Picchi. Based on what happened this year, we can no doubt expect bigger and better things next year. Picchi and her staff have been quite visible at local high school games in their never-ending search for basketball talent.

And finally, it had to happen sometime. Lemoore’s vaunted wrestling program stumbled a bit his year, losing its attempt to win a 20th consecutive West Yosemite League championship. Lemoore’s wrestlers were beaten in the waning moments of the league tournament. For the past 20 years Lemoore’s program has been a local and valley powerhouse. Consider this just a blip on the radar screen. The Tigers will definitely be back as will a program that has produced numerous valley and state champions.