LA HABRA – One by one they funneled out of the locker room postgame, some with sweatshirt hoods on, the others with heads down, ultimately trying to mask the dejected feeling that was starting to sink in as they were met by family and friends for embraces of consolation.
Chasing a lead from the middle of the first quarter on, fourth-seeded Sonora was unable to string together any semblance of consecutive defensive stops in the fourth quarter as Calabasas’ unselfish brand of offense repeatedly produced clutch buckets late as the Coyotes knocked off the Raiders, 80-69, in a Division 1AA second-round game at Sonora High on Friday night.
Suffering just their fourth loss of the season, the Raiders finished 25-4. Calabasas (20-9) improved to 14-1 since the start of the new year and advances to play Rancho Verde on the road in Tuesday night’s quarterfinals.
“It was one of those games where it just wasn’t our night,” said Sonora senior guard Kevin Marlow, who finished with 14 points. “We couldn’t really make anything in the second half and they were making everything. I don’t think we played bad by any means, they’re just a good team and we got beat tonight.”
While four players scored in double figures for both squads, Calabasas had eight players account for field goals to Sonora’s five. Coyotes junior forward Ben Kaslow scored 10 of his game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter. Calabasas scored 33 points in the fourth quarter.
Trailing by six entering the final quarter, Sonora cut the deficit to a point and on three separate possessions found itself within two or three points of the Coyotes.
With Calabasas’ nifty passing leading to easy baskets combined with Sonora’s 3-of-9 shooting in the final 2:30 of regulation, the Raiders were never able to even the score.
“They’re a tough team, they were able to get looks and we couldn’t put them away,” Calabasas coach Colin Jamerson said.
“All I told my guys was if we could get three or four consecutive stops, we’ll be able to pull away. And that’s what happened in that late stretch.”
Lucas Everett led the Raiders with 17 points with five 3-pointers.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@scng.com
