Bulldog cagers tune up for Valley League play
Ramona Bulldog boys varsity basketball team started its final tune-up for Valley League play by participating in the Spartan Classic at Chula Vista High School.
Andrew Alcaraz earned a spot on the all-tournament team with solid all-around play. Alcaraz scored 61 points, dished out 15 assists and grabbed 13 rebounds.
The Dawgs will enter Valley League action with a 7-6 record.
Ramona started slowly in the tourney with a 64-36 loss to Helix High School in the opening round. Alcaraz led the Dawgs with 15 points. He had three steals on defense. Bryson Garcia and Kwayde Miller had solid games rebounding. Garcia grabbed five boards and Miller hauled down seven.
Ramona lost the first game in the consolation bracket to Chula Vista High School 83-72. The Dawgs got out to a 19-18 first quarter advantage but trailed 40-34 at half. Ramona trailed 62-52 going into the last eight minutes of play and could not rally for a win.
Alcaraz scored a season high 22 points to lead the Dawgs. He connected on two 3-point shots and had five steals on defense.
Garcia also tallied in double figures for the Bulldog with 12 points. He grabbed four rebounds. Jared Engler (9), Josh Lieber (8), Keith Scheib (5), Garlan Marshall (5), Jake Wolf (2) and Kwayde Miller (2) also scored for the Dawgs.
The Bulldogs bounced back to beat Steele Canyon 49-45 in the consolation bracket. The Dawgs led 11-6 at the end of the first period and 25-9 at intermission. The Cougars made a second half run but the Dawgs hung on for the win.
Alcaraz led all scorers with 17 points. He hit two 3-point goals.
Windes scored 9 points and led the team with seven rebounds. Engler (6), Garcia (6), Scheib (5), Lieber (2), Miller (1) and Leahy (1) also scored in the victory. Windes and Scheib hit one 3-point goal apiece.
The Bulldog defense played its best game of the year as the Dawgs defeated Point Loma High School 51-33 in its final game in the consolation bracket of the Spartan Classic. The Dawgs’ defense did not allow the Pointers to score in double figures in any quarter of the game.
“We just went back to basics and played man to man and wore them down,” said assistant coach and defensive coordinator Dan Marshall. “Point Loma is the best team that we have played this year and we rose to the occasion. Our post players, Garcia and Engler, really set the tone of the game because they controlled the action in the paint.”
Ramona took a 10-8 first quarter lead and then erupted for 20 second quarter points to put the game away as they took a 30-16 lead into the locker room. They continued to add to their advantage in the second half to coast to a win.
Garcia turned his best offensive game of the year as he led all scorers with 21 points. Engler also tallied in double digits for the Dawgs with 16 points. Alcaraz (7), Miller (3), Windes (2) and Watson (2) scored in the victory.