Cagers open league play with two home losses

By Bill Tamburrino

Ramona’s varsity basketball opened Palomar League play with two losses in the Dawg House as they lost to Rancho Bernardo High School on Jan. 17 and Westview High School on Friday.

The Dawgs are 7-11 overall and 0-2 in league action.

Ramona had no answer for Rancho Bernardo’s Richie Orlins as the Broncos beat the Bulldogs 74-59 in the Palomar League opener for both schools.

Orlins scored a game high 24 points and grabbed game high 20 rebounds, 13 on the Bronco’s defensive end of the court, to frustrate the Dawgs. Orlins and 20 Bulldog turnovers sealed the Bulldog’s fate.

The two teams played neck and neck throughout the entire first half. The score was tied at 14 after one quarter of play and, with 4.3 seconds left in the first half, the score was tied at 26. Rancho Bernardo Coach Jim Choe, a former Bulldog coach, called a time out and designed an inbounds play. The play resulted in an uncontested layup for the Broncos, and Ramona trailed 28-26 at intermission.

The Broncos extended their lead to 47-43 going into the final quarter and outscored the Dawgs 25-16 in the final eight minutes.

Chris Durham opened league play by posting a double. The senior forward scored 15 points, had four steals and grabbed 11 rebounds. He knocked down two 3-point baskets.

Jonathan Schirer and Kwayde Miller also scored in double figures for the Dawgs. Schirer scored 15 and had four steals on defense. Miller scored 10 points.

Travis Stevens scored 6 points, grabbed seven boards, recorded four steals, blocked two shots and dished off six assists. Ryan Heiar (6), Zach White (3), Matt Lawler (2) and Hunter Rowe (2) also scored for the Dawgs.

The Bulldogs could not overcome a disastrous first quarter as they lost to Westview 76-60.

The Wolverines jumped out to an 18-4 lead after the first eight minutes and led 42-16 at intermission.

The Dawgs rallied and played the Wolverines evenly in the third period and actually outscored Westview 27-16 in the final stanza.

The key to Ramona’s second half success was that the Dawgs cut down on their turnovers. Ramona committed 19 first half turnovers and only gave the ball up eight times in the final 16 minutes.

Schirer led all scorers with 25 points thanks to a second half scoring spree.

Miller scored 8 points and thrilled the crowd with two fourth-period slam dunks. Durham (9), Heiar (3), Dylan Fieger (2), Jordan Farhat (4) and Stevens (9) also scored for the Dawgs.

Durham led the Dawgs in three categories. He had six boards, four blocks and three steals. Stevens led the Dawgs with five assists.

Coach Reichner remains optimistic.

“The team will look to continue to play the way they ended the game the rest of the season,” he said.

The Dawgs are on the road for the next two and a half weeks, traveling to Poway High School, Torrey Pines High, Mt. Carmel High, Rancho Bernardo and Westview before returning home on Feb. 14.