Coyotes open tourney with win
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera’s Sofia Perez drives against Kingsburg to score two of her 13 points during Wednesday’s victory in Joe Flores Gym.
After taking some time off for the holidays, the Madera Coyotes girls basketball team opened the Yosemite Basketball Tournament with a 52-41 victory over the Kingsburg Vikings in Joe Flores Gym.
The Coyotes wore down the Vikings, who only had seven players on their roster. Madera outscored the Vikings 31-15 in the second half for the victory.
“They were limited in players,” head coach Jason Smith said. “They only have a couple of key players and lost a few to injuries the past few years. We figured we would wear them out. It didn’t hurt that we outhustled them, like we should have all game, the last three quarters.”
The Coyotes shot just 25 percent in the first half and committed 12 turnovers. However, Madera shot 44 percent (12-of-27) in the second half and committed just eight turnovers. They forced 30 turnovers from the Vikings.
Jasmine Gomes led the Coyotes with 15 points on five 3-pointers. She also had four steals and four rebounds.
“Jasmine has always been that player that we knew could give us a lot,” Smith said. “She has to play hard all the time, which she hasn’t done. She’s been trying to show us what she’s got in practice. She earned her start tonight. Right before the game, I told her she has her opportunity, make the most of it. She made good decisions, controlled the ball well, played smart and made five 3-pointers. We’ll take that all day.”
Sofia Perez added 13 points with 10 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. Camile DeAnda added seven rebounds to go with six steals.
“Camile DeAnda was everywhere.” Smith said. “She won every hustle play. Sofia owned the boards and she was converting. BriAnn (Houghton) played well down the stretch after getting into foul trouble early on.”
Gomes opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, but the Vikings scored six straight points to take the lead.
Janessa Fernandes made a driving layup before the end of the first quarter for a 16-9 Vikings lead.
Gomes hit a 3-pointer, but the Vikings hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the lead to 14.
The Coyotes closed the second quarter with a 6-0 run. Gomes found Gracie Castellanos for a short bucket, Lexi Carmona made an acrobatic layup and Fernandes made two free throws to cut Kingsburg’s lead to 26-21 at the half.
Kingsburg put back a missed shot to open a seven-point lead with 4:40 left in the third.
DeAnda hit a three-foot jumper to start an 8-0 run. Perez scored on an inbounds pass, Gomes found Houghton for a bucket, Houghton found Cathy Figueroa to give the Coyotes a 29-28 lead.
Kingsburg hit two 3-pointers to open its lead to five, but the Coyotes closed the quarter with a short jumper from Perez and a layup by DeAnda at the third quarter buzzer to cut the lead to one.
Perez put back a miss and Gomes hit a 3-pointer for a 9-0 run.
Gomes hit another 3-pointer to open the lead to four. Gomes got a steal and Houghton hit a seven-footer for a 43-37 lead.
The Coyotes took control of the game with a 9-0 run. Gomes started the run with her fifth 3-pointer of the night. Houghton put back a free throw and Fernandes made one.
Then, Perez stepped back to drain a baseline 3-pointer for the 52-41 final score.
