It is a tall task taking on the league-leading Coalinga Horned Toad varsity basketball squad on any given night.
But when you take to the court without your leading scorer and top rebounder, it is like playing basketball with both hands tied behind your back.
Dos Palos, without guard Jacquez Jones and center Ace O’Banion playing, fielded only seven players last Friday and the Horned Toads slowly and methodically wore down the Broncos, 87-40.
The Broncos will try to get back in the win column when they host Mendota this Friday. On Tuesday, they will have another West Sierra League game when they host Tranquillity.
Coalinga head coach Jason McFarlin went deep into his bench to wear down the Broncos. Dos Palos was able to stay close in the first half with guards Sixto Ibarra and Jacob Renteria continually penetrating up the middle and drawing fouls on drives to the basket. Unfortunately, the Broncos had problems converting at the charity stripe, converting eight of 14 free throws in the first quarter as they trailed Coalinga, 22-13 at the end of the first quarter. They would ultimately finish 10 for 23 at the free throw line.
Led by point guard Jaden Pena, a 5’11” senior, Coalinga sprinted up and down the court in the second quarter scoring 27 points while holding the Broncos to only 11 points to blow the game open at halftime, 49-24.
The Horned Toads kept up the onslaught in the third quarter, scoring on fast breaks while holding Dos Palos to only one shot per possession. The Broncos scored only nine points in the quarter on three-point shots by Ibarra, Andrew SanRoman and Renteria.
Pena finished the game with 35 points while teammates Damyen Tamayo and Drake Stevens scored 15 points each.
Renteria and SanRoman paced the Broncos with nine points each and Ibarra added eight.
Coalinga improved its record to15-6 overall, and they lead the WSL with a 4-0 record.
