Bishop Union High School Basketball tops California City, Honors Seniors
By Arnie Palu
February 11, 2016
Senior Night at Bishop Union High School was a success with ten senior basketball players honored and two big wins. The Bronco Varsity Girls stay perfect in High Desert League play with a 51-3 win and the boys strengthen their playoff chances with a 84-68 victory over California City. Bishop Union now hits the road for the final two games of the regular season with trips to Frazier Mt (Friday, February 12) and rival Kern Valley (Tuesday, February 16th). Boys Varsity HDL games are broadcast live on AM 1230 KBOV, and streamed live here through the home page’s listen live link.
Varsity Girls Basketball
California City… 3
Bishop Union….51
Five Bronco seniors played their final regular season home game in Gus Klekas gymnasium Wednesday night. Rosalind Cardenas, Sabrina Barlow, Maria Jimenez, Sophia Thomas, and Cienna Martinez were honored prior to the game. Bishop Union put the game out of reach early taking a 25-0 lead at the half-way mark. Strong Bronco defense held California City scoreless until early in the 3rd quarter. Coach Tara Auld and Assistant Coach Alice Bruck were clearly pleased with the defensive effort and noted that every bronco scored. The win moves the Broncos to 6-0 in High Desert League play with two games remaining. Bishop travels to Frazier Mt Friday then plays rival Kern Valley on the 16th. Bishop handled KV at home, but now has to travel to Lake Isabella to play in KV’s tight, hostile gym. Kern Valley would tie Bishop for the league title with a win.
Individual Statistics vs. California City
Maria Jimenez – 8 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 7 steals, 2 blocks
Topah Scherer- 6 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Sabrina Barlow – 8 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assists, 3 steals
Cienna Martinez – 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists
Sophia Thomas – 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
Kassidie Duckey – 1 point and 2 steals
Rosalind Cardenas – 2 points and 2 rebounds
Little Eval Lent – 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block
Drew Dondero – 2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
During halftime of the Varsity boys broadcast, Bishop Union Girls Varsity head coach Tara Auld praised the effort and leadership of this years seniors. “The five seniors have taken the reigns, it has really been their team. They have really stepped up leadership-wise and they are true roll-models for the underclassmen in the program.”
Bishop Union Varsity Boys
California City ..68
Bishop Union ….84
Bishop Union Coach Gordon Moose started his five seniors Wednesday night. Daniel Olsen, Brandon Forest, Joel Talamantes, Alex “Ziggy” Armitage, and Gene Dondero opened the game for the Broncos and stayed on the floor for the entire opening quarter. Bishop Union used a strong 1st half opening up a comfortable 45-27 halftime lead. Leading 63-45 heading into the fourth quarter California City hit five 3-point baskets cutting the Bronco lead to 10 points. Bishop Union’s Daniel Olsen, Dru Allen and Sean Brown hit clutch shots to extent the lead allowing the Broncos to breath easy in the final minutes of the 84-68 win. Matching the Varsity girls before them, each Bronco player contributed points.
Individual Statistics
Daniel Olsen, 18 points.
Dru Allen, 16 points.
Mike Molina, 13 points.
Sean Brown, 12 points.
Tommy Ruelas, 9 points.
Brandon Forest, 4 points.
Joel Talamantes, 4 points.
Ziggy Armitage, 4 points.
Gene Dondero, 4 points.
Bishop Union JV Girls
California City..18
Bishop Union …38
Individual Statistics
Gracie Soto, 15 points.
Morningstar Lent, 10 points.
Liza Joya, 7 points.
Paige Martinez, 4 points.
Julie Cepeda, 2 points.
Coaches Comments. “The girls are really starting to learn how to work together with 6 players for most of the season. They are doing such a good job! Keep up the hard work ladies. ”
Coach Tammy Spoonhunter
Bishop Union JV Boys
California City ..48
Bishop Union ….42
Individual Statistics
Trace Sapp, 12 points.
Ed Piper, 8 points.
Kanyon Martinez, 7 points.
Izzak Morgenstein, 6 points.
Hunter Waasdorp, 4 points.
Gabe Shoshone, 3 points.
Carson Eldridge, 2 points.