Too many missed shots hurt Stallions
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera South point guard Daniel Valdez drives the lane against Buhach Colony to score two of his six points in Wednesday’s loss on the first day of the Madera South Basketball Classic.
Most basketball coaches say they want shots in the paint because those are the easiest shots to make.
However, the Madera South Stallions got plenty of shots in the paint, but couldn’t capitalize on their chances. The Stallions shot 29 percent from the field in the game, but, more importantly, shot just 17 percent (5-of-29) in the second and third quarter. In all, Madera South missed 42 out of 49 shots. The Buhach Colony-Atwater Thunder outscored the Stallions
33-16 in the two quarters to cruise to a 57-47 victory on the first day of the Madera South Basketball Classic.
Joe Galvan led the Stallions with 18 points and he was the lone player in double-figures. Daniel Valdez scored six and Erik Cervantes added eight for the Stallions.
In all, the Stallions forced 21 turnovers from Buhach, but their ineffectiveness from the field hurt. Madera South also went 0-for-10 from 3-point range.
The Stallions took a 9-2 lead at the end of the first quarter despite shooting just 2-of-10 from the field. Galvan and Nathan Barron made the only field goals for the Stallions. Rondell Jordan made a free throw and Cervantes was 4-of-4 from the line for the early lead.
The Thunder scored seven straight points in the second quarter to tie the game at nine.
Angel Martinez-Garcia converted a 3-point play for a 12-9 Stallions’ lead. However, Buhach sank a 3-pointer to tie the game back.
Jordan scored down low and Galvan got a steal and put in a layup for a 16-12 lead. Buhach followed with a bucket and a 3-point play to grab a 17-16 lead at the half.
Galvan gave the Stallions the lead with a pair of free throws 14 seconds into the second half.
However, Buhach scored the next six points to take the lead. Galvan stopped the run with a free throw, but the Thunder scored the next five to extend to a 28-20 lead.
Galvan scored down low, but the Thunder made a bucket. Valdez found Galvan for another layup, but the Thunder answered with a pair of buckets to extend to a 10-point lead.
Jordan and Buhach exchanged free throws for a 35-25 Buhach lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Stallions tried to battle back against Buhach, but every time the Stallions scored, Buhach had an answer.
Barron opened the quarter with a five-foot jumper, but the Thunder got a pair of layups.
Galvan scored twice down low to get the lead to eight. However, Buhach hit a bucket. Valdez came back with a four-foot floater, but the Thunder drained a 3-pointer.
After Galvan scored on another layup, the Thunder made back-to-back layups for a 13-point lead.
Valdez drove to the hoop for a layup and Cervantes made a pair of free throws to get the lead to nine.
Buhach hit a 3-pointer to get the lead to 12, but Valdez and Cervantes made layups to get within eight with about three minutes left.
However, Buhach came back with a pair of buckets to get the lead to 55-43.
Valdez put back his own miss and Galvan scored off an assist from Cervantes, but it was too little too late.
The Stallions couldn’t score in the final minute and the Thunder added two free throws for a 57-47 victory.
