The Dos Palos Bronco varsity basketball team plays a quick, tough defense that creates turnovers while their passing on offense creates good scoring opportunities.
However, if the Broncos are going to make a run in the West Sierra League this season, they are going to have to improve their outside shooting.
Last Friday in the opening game of the WSL, Dos Palos dropped a close. 47-43 decision to the Avenal Buccaneers.
This Friday, Dos Palos will continue league play when they travel to Tranquillity, and on Tuesday they will host Firebaugh.
The Broncos and Bucs were two evenly matched teams, featuring quick guard play. Dos Palos is led by senior point guard Jacquez Jones while Avenal relies on twin brothers Ryan and Rodney Vargas.
Using balanced scoring and good defense, the Broncos took a slim 14-13 lead after the first quarter. Besides the consistent scoring of Jones, they received key baskets from senior Sixto Ibarra and freshman guard Tevin Clay.
But Dos Palos’ ongoing shooting woes came front and center in the second quarter as they missed all seven of their three-point shot attempts and were able to only score four points. Avenal did not fare much better, converting only one of their five shots from beyond the arc. However, some second chance attempts off of those misses allowed them to take a 24-18 halftime lead.
Ryan Vargas really got a hot hand in the third quarter, pouring in 10 of his team high 23 points as the Bucs continued to hold their lead even though Dos Palos managed to score 18 points in the quarter.
Jones and the Broncos came up with some key steals in the final quarter to pull within 45-43 with just three minutes to play. Avenal was able to convert four of six free throws to keep their lead and win the game.
Jones led all scorers with 25 points. Besides Ryan Vargas’ 23 points for the Bucs, brother Rodney finished with nine.
