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Badger cagers flop at Kerman 42-26

Badgers end subpar season with hard loss to Lions

Mike Hackworth

(Updated: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 1:25 PM)

In a contest that was not easy to watch, a combination of turnovers and poor shooting sealed the season for the Badgers. Playing in Kerman on Senior Night last Friday, the Yosemite High School boys basketball team (7-17, 2-8 NSL) played tough and aggressive defense and stayed in the game for 26 minutes before falling 42-26.

The Badgers allowed Kerman (11-7, 6-4 NSL) to build a 12-point lead in the first quarter and over the course of the game could not make up the deficit. As usual, the first half was an offensive struggle for the Badgers with Yosemite trailing 28-18 at the break. The teams combined for 34 turnovers, but the tempo of the game was in Kerman's favor.

"We knew we were in for a battle and we knew it is going to be a physical game," Dunn said. "We were lucky to only be behind 28-18 at halftime because, offensively, we left a lot to be desired."

Yosemite managed only six field goals the entire game (five 2-pointers and a 3-pointer), the rest of its points came from the free throw line, the Badgers making 13-17.

"Senior guard Ken Buchoff set the pace and center Jesus Rico controlled the boards," said Kerman head coach Robert Zavala. "We are a good team and play hard."

The grueling tempo continued for most of the third quarter until the Badgers finally managed an 8-1 run, and with 2:01 remaining in the quarter, closed to within six points. But the Lions came right back with their own eight-point run and building an insurmountable lead.

Point guard Cody Essary scored 12 points for the Badgers, Dunn added seven points from eight free-throw attempts. Buchoff led the Lions with 17 points and Rico had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

The NSL victory was Kerman's second win of the season against the Badgers, and with it, the Lions move on to the Division IV Central Section playoffs.

Kerman earned an eighth seed and will host Caruthers on Tuesday. Yosemite will sit out the playoffs for the first time since 2003-04. Under Coach Siverly's guidance, the Badgers were in the playoffs every year with a 4-4 record in the post season.

Chowchilla 38, Yosemite 35

In a battle for the NSL basement The Yosemite High school boys basketball team traveled to Chowchilla to meet the Redskins (6-13, 2-6 NSL) Feb. 17. After taking a 10-9 first-quarter lead, the Badgers (7-16, 2-7 NSL) offense grew silent for the next 8 minutes, managing only five points, while the Redskins put up 12 points.

Yosemite made it a close game before losing 38-35. Dunn lead the Badgers with 10 points and Caleb Cederblom added eight. Terrance Olivia and Kyle Kinsley scored five points apiece for the Redskins.

Liberty High failed to win either of its final two games and stayed in last place in the league.

"Our Defense allowed us to stay in games when we were not scoring," Yosemite coach Mark Siverly said. "We return nine players next year and will have more experience going into the season. This year we only had three returners."