Coyotes get win over Apaches
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera’s Conner Huber shoots against Sanger on Wednesday. Huber scored two goals in Madera’s 8-5 victory.
The Madera Coyotes boys water polo team took a 5-2 halftime lead and didn’t look back in an 8-5 victory over the Sanger Apaches in McAlister Pool.
The Coyotes took a 4-2 lead in the first quarter and shut out Sanger in the second quarter Wednesday for the lead. Madera is 17-5 overall and 4-2 in the County/Metro Athletic Conference.
“We controlled the offense and defense throughout all four quarters,” head coach Rick Martines said. “We effectively used the shot clock, as well. The guys’ communication was on target with each other and that is what helped us keep control the game. They didn’t rush the passes and let the plays develop.”
Austin Wade led the Coyotes with four goals. Conner Huber added two more. Ernesto Solis and Anthony Campos each scored a goal. P.J. Ornelas recorded eight blocks in goal.
“The guys all played well,” Martines said. “Conner was very strong and shot effectively on the outside perimeter, scoring two and giving four assists. Austin was just as effected attacking the cage and shooting outside the five-meter. Ernesto has become more comfortably offensively. Jordon Martines, Josh Mosqueda, Chris Vasquez and Robbie Niino played excellent defense.”
The Coyotes play at Bullard on Wendesday. Girls fall to Div. I contender
The Sanger Apaches girls water polo team is one of the top teams in Div. I and the Coyotes are trying to move into the upper tier of Div. II, thus a mismatch in Wednesday’s CMAC game where Sanger defeated the Coyotes 19-9.
“We played very good today, but the game does not truly represent what kind of game we had,” head coach Erik Baymiller said. “Sanger crushes us every game, every quarter and are a Div. I contender and we didn’t even come close.”
The Coyotes had a glimmer of hope, scoring the first three goals of the match. Sanger battled back to tie the match at three at the end of the first quarter and the teams were tied at seven at the half.
“We kept it close until the middle of the third,” Baymiller said. “We lost our confidence and let them run away on us.”
Jessica Diaz led the team with seven goals and Emily Goertzen added two more.
The Coyotes headed into Wednesday’s game fresh off a 3-1 record over the weekend’s Sunnyside Tournament.
The Coyotes lost one game for the third tournament in a row and came away with a third place finish.
The Coyotes opened the tournament with an 11-2 win over Hoover and followed that with a 9-8 win over Selma.
Madera lost to El Diamante-Visalia 7-3 to send them into the third place game where they defeated Edison-Fresno, 9-5.
Diaz scored 21 of the team’s 32 goals.
