Cagers end week with two tourney wins
By Bill Tamburrino
The Bulldog basketball team had its best week of the season, winning two games in the X-Treme Glass Holiday Tournament at Sweetwater High School. The Dawgs went 2-2 in the tourney to improve their record to 3-6 on the season.
The Dawgs started the tourney by playing well against traditional power, Hoover High School. Hoover controlled the tempo in the first half and took a 38-18 lead into the locker room at half.
Ramona played well in the second half and outscored the Cardinals 36-26. The rally was not enough as the Dawgs lost 64-54.
“To pull off victories we must take care of the ball and play through difficult calls,” said Coach David Reichner, alluding to two key statistics in the game. Ramona committed 24 turnovers and sent Hoover to the free throw line 35 times to Ramona’s 13.
Jonathan Schirer led the Dawgs in scoring with 13 points. Chris Durham and Travis Stevens scored nine points apiece.
Kwayde Miller contributed 8 points to the cause. Zach White (2), Garlan Marshall (6), Ryan Heiar (1), Dylan Fieger (2), Matt Lawler (1) and Hunter Rowe (1) also scored for the Dawgs.
Ramona beat Mar Vista 64-51 by taking the scoring first and never relinquishing the lead. The Dawgs led 21-12 after one period and 41-21 at half.
“Our focus was to get the ball inside on offense and to have our defense stop our opponents from penetrating the middle and force them to the baseline,” said Reichner.
The strategy worked.
Miller (11), Schirer (10) and Durham (10) all scored in double figures and got most of their points in the paint. Lawler contributed 7 points inside. White (3), Stevens (7), Marshall (4), Fieger (2) Jordan Farhat (7) and Rowe (3) also scored in the victory. A key factor in the game was Ramona’s defense made 13 steals.
Ramona lost to Steele Canyon 64-48. One bad quarter hurt the Bulldogs badly. The Cougars outscored the Dawgs 20-9 in the second quarter to take a 38-22 lead into the locker room.
The two teams played evenly in the second half. Ramona’s defense held the Cougars to five field goals in the second half.
Miller led the offense with 13 points and he grabbed eight boards. Stevens also scored in double digits for the Dawgs with 12 points. In addition, White (4), Heiar (2), Schirer (5), Durham (8) and Lawler (4) scored for the Dawgs.
Ramona finished the tournament with an exciting victory. The Dawgs had to come from behind after leading for most of the game to beat Victor Valley 51-47.
Ramona led 12-4 going into the second period and 26-19 at intermission. In the third quarter Ramona’s defense held the Jack Rabbits to 5 points and led 34-24 going into the final eight minutes.
Victor Valley rallied to take the lead, but according to Coach Reichner “a couple of good bounces of the ball got the Bulldogs a victory.”
The Dawgs were outscored 23-17 in the final period but rallied to win when it counted.
Jonathan Schirer led all scorers with 16 points and played well on defense. Miller recorded a double-double as the 6’8 center scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. White (6), Stevens (5), Heiar (1), Durham (4), Lawler (2) and Rowe (4) also scored in the victory.
The Dawgs are learning a new system and are improving and playing hard.