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JV Hoop Boys Earn Split, Freshmen Win Two On Court
Borrego
Freshman Julian Borrego, 23, has his way to the basket blocked by Argonaut players in earlier season action. The frosh boys defeated Argonaut and Summerville in non-league games this past week. Marg Jackson/The Times

It was an up and down week for the Escalon JV basketball boys, starting off with a lopsided loss on the home court.

They hosted Argonaut on Thursday, Jan. 2 and fell by a 58-36 margin.

“We just came out really flat,” admitted head coach Brandon Hoover.

He said the team played well in the prior week’s tournament, even though they took three losses, but had put together some strong efforts and looked to go into the non-league game with some momentum.

“It was a bit disappointing,” Hoover said. “We scored just two points in the first quarter, we were down 20-2 after the first quarter and just couldn’t dig ourselves out of it.”

Desean Owens paced the team with seven points and Logan Anderson had six in the loss.

Friday, Jan. 3 the JV boys had the chance to get back on the court and were looking for some redemption. They found it at Summerville, as they bounced back with a 56-31 victory.

“I was really pleased,” Hoover noted. “We played with more energy.”

The coach said he and his staff challenged the team prior to the contest, telling them they could just pack it in and give up trying or fight for a win.

“They chose to respond and played hard,” he explained.

Owens had a strong night at his point guard position, pouring in 17 points in the win. Jack Anderson was right behind him with a 16-point night.

“Mark Valente came off the bench and scored 10 points and had seven rebounds,” Hoover pointed out. “Zack Valencia also played well, nine points and seven rebounds.”

In freshman action this week, the team won both games, taking down Argonaut on the home court on Thursday and kicking off the Cougar sweep at Summerville on Friday. For the youngest Cougars, it was the second time in less than a week they had defeated Argonaut, coming out on top in the final game they played in the Escalon tournament between the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The squads were to close out the preseason with a game at Orestimba on Tuesday, Jan. 7 played after The Times went to press, and then will open up Trans-Valley League action with a Friday road game against Riverbank on Jan. 10.