Sonora is getting healthier. If that means Sonora is about to get better, watch out.
The Raiders, now with all the pieces in place, blitzed Sunny Hills, 66-45, on Wednesday at Sonora High in the Freeway League opener for both.
Ben Rico, a senior guard who recently returned after missing several games because of a foot injury, scored a game-high 14 points with four 3-pointers for Sonora. Senior forwards Steven Murphy and Aashad Womack scored 12 points each. Womack had 11 rebounds, Murphy had eight rebounds and senior point guard Josh Rodriguez had five assists.
Sonora, ranked No. 3 in Orange County and No. 2 in CIF-Southern Section Division 3AA, is 14-3 overall. Sunny Hills, No. 11 in CIF-SS Division 2A, is 10-6.
The Raiders outscored the Lancers, 13-0, over the final minutes of the first quarter and the first few minutes of the second to create a 28-20 halftime lead.
Sonora then put together a dominating third quarter. The Raiders outscored Sunny Hills, 22-4, in the quarter to take a 50-24 lead into the fourth quarter.
Raiders coach Mike Murphy did not expect a blowout in the league opener against a good team like Sunny Hills.
“You’re always pessimistic going into the first league game,” Murphy said. “Everything changes in league. It just gets more intense.”
With Rico getting back into playing shape and various illnesses out of the way, Sonora, which has won six in a row, might be on a roll. Rico said his absence gave other Raiders more offensive opportunities and the accompanying chance to improve.
“Guys stepped up and accepted the responsibility,” he said. “And they all came up big.”
Coach Mike Murphy said Womack, an active and quick 6-foot-6 and 240-pounds, might be the most improved player on the team.
“He didn’t play last year,” Murphy said, “and he played football during the fall so I didn’t see him until the end of the football season. When I did see him, I went, ‘oh, my gosh.’”
In the Garden Grove League:
Garden Grove 81, Rancho Alamitos 54: Felix Ramirez scored 23 points with five 3-pointers and Chris O’Farrell scored 22 with 10 rebounds for the host Argonauts (16-2, 1-0).
In the Orange Coast League:
Laguna Beach 52, Costa Mesa 42: Isaac Wulff’s 20 points led the visiting Breakers (9-10, 1-0).
In the Sea View League:
San Juan Hills 61, Capistrano Valley 51: Kyle Luna scored 19 points and Vincent McFadden and Daniel Himes added 17 and 14 points, respectively, for the visiting Stallions.
In the Sunset League:
No. 8 Los Alamitos 72, Huntington Beach 49: The Griffins (16-1, 2-0) were led by Eyassu Worku’s 17 points. Kurtis Wirth added 14 for Los Alamitos, which has lost only to No. 6 Canyon.
In the Trinity League:
No. 2 Orange Lutheran 78, JSerra 54: Rogers Printup scored 18 points and C.J. Hankins added 13 for the Lancers (14-2, 2-0), who face top-ranked Mater Dei on Friday.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
