Prep basketball: Ponderosa Bruins rally past Placer to win Foothill Valley League opener
The three-time defending champion Ponderosa Bruins aren’t going to have an easy time gunning for a fourth consecutive Foothill Valley League title. They returned only two players with varsity experience this season, and one has already been lost for the season.
But head coach Clark Woods’ team showed early signs of resolve, coming back from five points down to start the fourth quarter to overtake Placer, 66-62, in a league opener Tuesday on Placer’s home floor inside historic Earl Crabbe Gym.
“We know we have to go through Placer first and foremost, and everyone else is going to give us their best shot,” Woods said after his team snapped a two-game losing streak. “We’re young, we’re inexperienced, but we will find a way.”
The Bruins had four players in double figures, led by Lake Liebscher’s 15 points, Marco Moorman’s 13 and Keenan Patterson’s 11. They overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to improve to 11-7 on the season. Ponderosa handed Placer just its third loss, but with Ben Manley (27 points) and Garrett Dutro (13), the Hillmen still might have the top-end talent to end the Bruins’ title streak in the coming weeks.
Senior captain Max Manfredi, who stands 6-foot-6 and often acts as the team’s primary ball handler, is Ponderosa’s only available player returning from last season’s league champions. The other is fellow senior Jacob Florence, who is out for the season with a leg injury. He watched Tuesday’s game wearing a brace on the end of the bench.
Placer paced the game for most of the night and held leads after the first three quarters. But Ponderosa’s defense tightened in the fourth and the Bruins hit free throws down the stretch to salt the game away. Woods credited his team’s composure and the defense’s ability to limit Placer to just one shot by crashing the glass and preventing second-chance opportunities.
The Bruins outscored the Hillmen 20-11 in the final frame. They made nine 3 pointers and had assists on 15 of their 23 baskets on the night.
“It’s a huge win for us to get some momentum. We’ve learned how to win on the road all preseason long,” Woods said. “So this is one (win) that lifts us as we go into our league.”
Earl Crabbe Gym is a historic venue that was originally built in 1937. It has elevated wooden stands that don’t retract like most modern high school gyms. The hardwood is dark and the walls are adorned by countless flags and banners commemorating accomplishments from the school’s various sports teams since the school was founded in 1897.
There’s enough room on the sideline thanks to the raised stands for a full band to provide the game’s musical soundtrack as their was no music played through the gym’s sound system.
Ponderosa next will play Oakmont on Thursday in Roseville before taking on Weston Ranch of Stockton on Saturday. The Bruins’ first home league game comes Tuesday against West Park.
Placer will look to rebound with a road tilt against Lincoln on Thursday before going home to host Nevada Union on Tuesday.
