Cagers earn third place trophy in Tri-City tourney

By Bill Tamburrino

The Ramona Bulldog basketball team advanced to the semifinals in the championship bracket in the Tri-City Christian Holiday Basketball Tournament and rallied to take home the third place trophy.

The tourney was old school. It was a 16-team tournament with a winners bracket and a consolation bracket.

The Dawgs opened by beating Pacific Ridge High School of Carlsbad 62-34. Chris Durham led the Dawgs by recording a double-double.

Durham scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Jonathan Schirer led all scorers with 18 points. Schirer also had eight boards.

The game was close at half with Ramona leading 26-19. The Dawgs then outscored the Firebirds 36-15 in the second half. Zach White (2), Travis Stevens (9), Ryan Heiar (2), Dylan Fieger (7), Jordan Farhat (4) and Matt Lawler (6) also scored for the Dawgs.

Schirer added excitement to the offense with two slam dunks.

Ramona opened day two of the tournament by beating Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian Academy of Los Angeles 69-47.

Durham continued to sizzle as he had a season high 23 points and grabbed a game high nine boards. Schirer again joined Durham in the double figure scoring category.

Schirer scored 16 points. Heiar had his best rebounding game of the season as he grabbed nine rebounds to go along with his 6 points.

Kwayde Miller (6), Fieger (2), Farhat (4), White (8) and Lawler (4) also scored in the victory. Stevens led the Dawg defense with three steals.

Ramona’s offense struggled in the second and third quarters against Holy Martyrs Armenian School of Encino, and it cost them. The Bulldogs lost the semifinal game 48-36. The Dawgs only scored 6 points in the second quarter and 4 points in the third period.

Stevens was the only Bulldog to score in double digits. The senior guard scored 11 points.

Miller (8), Schirer (3), Durham (5), White (3) and Lawler also scored for Ramona.

Lawler led the Dawgs in rebounding with six boards. Schirer grabbed five rebounds.

Ramona bounced back to take home the trophy for third place with a 69-47 win over the Frogs of Guajome Park Academy of Vista.

Schirer scored a season high 24 points to pace the Bulldogs. Miller and Fieger also tallied in double figures as they scored 13 and 10 points, respectfully.

Lawler had a monster game on the boards. The sophomore forward grabbed a season high 13 rebounds and scored nine points. Stevens scored 8 points and grabbed five boards. Durham scored 5 points and had two rebounds.

The Dawgs now are 6-7 overall as they enter cross league play before starting Palomar League play.