Posted by
Mark Kusenberger on January 23, 2010 at 9:43 am
Lady Rockets dominate fourth quarter of 48-37 victory over Memorial
by Mark Kusenberger
SAsports.com Senior Writer
Gabby Ramos scored 9 of her 18 points in the decisive fourth quarter, as the Kennedy Rockets held off their sister school in a 48-37 victory over Memorial Friday night at Edgewood Gym.
Memorial (0-23, 0-9 in 28-4A) led 29-27 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. Then Ramos took matters in her own hands, scoring the last two points of the quarter on the way to a personal 6-0 run which gave Kennedy the lead for good at 33-29.
Ramos, who averages 17.1 points at game, had been limited to seven points before her scoring burst. Memorial would pull within one point at 36-35 on a basket by Kristie Cisneros with about four minutes left, but Kennedy closed the game on a 12-2 run.
Kennedy started strong, building up a 13-6 lead first quarter lead before a 7-0 Memorial run tied it with 5:42 left in the half. Kennedy retook the lead on a Lorie Hildalgo scored, assisted by a pass from Melissa Aragon, then Memorial went on a 6-1 run, taking their first lead in the process.
The Lady Minutemen, who led at the half 19-18, got five second quarter points from Ruth Gutierrez. Gutierrez’s five points led all scorers at the half.
The back-and-forth action continued through the third, as Kennedy built a 25-21 lead, only to have Memorial surge ahead 29-27 before Ramos took over the ballgame.
Winless Memorial suited up only seven players for the ballgame, including two juniors and four sophomores. While Memorial’s 7 players were whistled for 18 fouls, Kennedy’s 11 players were called for 14 fouls. Although none of the players fouled out, only two Lady Minutemen completed the game with fewer than three fouls. Ramos was 8 for 11 from the line for the ballgame; Cisneros, Memorial’s leading scorer with eight points, sank all six of her free throws attempts.
With the victory, Kennedy (9-16, 4-5 in 28-4A) takes over fourth place in district, pending Jefferson’s game Saturday afternoon against favored Edison. A Jefferson victory would create a tie for fourth win the Lady Rockets. Kennedy defeated Jefferson 45-32 in the first round of district; the rematch between Kennedy and Jefferson will take place next Tuesday at the Alamo Convocation Center.
Posted by
Mark Kusenberger on at 9:39 am
Minutemen dominate third quarter in 79-63 victory over Kennedy
by Mark Kusenberger
SAsports.com Senior Writer
Memorial High School has struggled at athletics.
The struggles are highlighted by their football team’s 41-game losing streak, which is officially at 14 thanks to a forfeit victory over Burbank in 2008, but they extended to all the sports programs.
Until this season.
With the first round of District 28-4A play completed for all but two teams, the Memorial Minuteman are now alone in third place after a 79-63 victory over the Kennedy Rockets Friday night before a standing-room-only crowd at Edgewood Gym.
With the win, Memorial is one game ahead of Kennedy and Burbank. Should favored Edison defeated Jefferson Saturday afternoon, the Bears will created a three-way tie for fourth with the Rockets and the Bulldogs.
Memorial (15-11, 4-3 in 28-4A), who suited up eight returning lettermen out of their nine players, overcame a halftime deficit by outscoring Kennedy 18-5 in the third quarter. Sophomore Justice Godley-Williams produced nine of his game-high 25 points in the quarter, driving the baseline for a reverse layup early in the quarter, changing speeds to drive to the basket for another layup later. Godley-Williams then opened the fourth quarter with a steal and a breakaway dunk.
Kennedy (11-15, 3-4 in 28-4A) took an early 4-0 lead on baskets by Joshua Garcia and Joshua Cisneros, and had Memorial shut out though the first two-and-a-half minutes. But even then, one of the Rockets’ problems was foreshadowed, as sophomore post Jalen Garcia committed his second foul with 5:28 remaining in the first quarter. Godley-Williams, Chris Martinez, and Isaac Rodriguez drove relentlessly to the hoop throughout the ballgame. Thanks to their aggressiveness, Jalen Garcia, John Gubanche, and Chance Bouldin were plagued with foul trouble throughout the game, severely hampering Kennedy coach Gilbert Vasquez’ rotations.
Gubanche, Bouldin, and Jalen Garcia all fouled out for the Rockets; Godley-Williams and Rodriguez fouled out for the Minutemen. Memorial shot 77% from the free throw line, hitting 23 of 30 attempts. Kennedy made 19 of 27 free throws.
Kennedy built a 20-14 lead after one quarter, led by eight points each from Anthony Terrazas and Esteban Gonzales; each sank a pair of three-pointers. Memorial adjusted to defend the perimeter, and slowly closed the gap, tying the game at 34 before going to the half trailing 36-35.
The Minutemen must hope head coach Clyde Schmittou recorded the half time speech. Memorial spent the first five minutes of the second half on a 12-0 run, with Godley-Williams providing 7 of the points. Jalen Garcia and Chance Bouldin were each whistled for their third fouls during the run; Garcia, Bouldin, and Gubanche were all assessed their fourth fouls during the run as well.
Midway through the fourth quarter, a section of Memorial fans began chanting “we want Sergio!” referring to Sergio Luna, a 5’7 senior guard who was the last Minuteman to play. He entered to an ovation with 1:35 left in the game, and Memorial holding a 20-point lead.
This means Luna is Memorial’s “human victory cigar”, the player whose entrance into the ballgame means his team has locked up the victory. Some people might feel slighted by such a label, but hopefully Luna can see it as a compliment.
After all, when was the last time the Memorial Minutemen had a human victory cigar?
Posted by
Jay Tope on June 8, 2009 at 8:58 pm
As of today, there is an opening for the Head Football Coach/Campus Coordinator at Memorial High School in the Edgewood School District.
This position will close fast, so contact Jerry Gonzales, Athletic Director for EISD at (210) 444-7949. Fax: (210) 444-7963. E-mail: jgonzalez@eisd.net
Posted by
Jay Tope on March 3, 2009 at 8:04 am
Everyone here at SAsports.com wishes the best for the freshman, sophomores, and juniors who are taking the TAKS test today. Think positively, eliminate distractions, and success will follow.
God bless you guys!
- Jay Tope
Posted by
Mark Kusenberger on January 11, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Joe Castillo scores nine in 4th to rally Memorial to victory
by Mark Kusenberger
SAsports.com Staff Writer
www.TSRNsports.com
The Memorial Minutemen outscored Fox Tech 21-7 in the fourth quarter to rally to their first district win, 61-49 over Fox Tech Saturday afternoon at the Alamo Convocation Center.
The game featured 6 ties and 6 lead changes before Memorial (9-11, 1-3 in 28-4A) took the lead for good early in the fourth quarter. Fox Tech fell to 13-8 overall and 2-2 in district. At the conclusion of Saturday’s action, 6 teams in 28-4A are tied for or within one game of 3rd place in district.
Memorial led 13-10 after one quarter, fronted by 6 points from Robert Garcia, but saw their lead shrink to 27-25 at the half. Better free throw shooting would have helped Memorial quite at bit; Jakoy Reed was 6 for 6 from the line, and Joe Castillo was 2 for 2, but the rest of the Minutemen were 1 for 10. Despite Reed and Castillo’s efforts, Memorial was 9 of 19 from the free throw line, below 50%.
After Memorial took the lead 36-35 in the third on a pair of free throws by Chris Martinez, Fox Tech scored four straight points on a J.D. Castillo deuce and two free throws by Justin Contreras.
Then Joe Castillo led the Minuteman rally, scoring 13 of his 22 points in the last 10 minutes of the game, with several slashing layups. Castillo finished 7 for 8 from the free throw line. Several of Castillo’s teammates also got baskets from the lane in the fourth quarter. Furthermore, Memorial was 9 for 10 from the free throw line in the second half.
Joe Castillo’s 22 ponts topped all scorers. Chris Martinez chipped in 14 for Memorial, followed by Robert Garcia with 10. Jakoy Reed finished with 8 points, all from the free throw line on 8 for 8 shooting.
J.D. Castillo and Russell Amador each scored 13 to lead the Fox Tech cause.
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