Despite adversity, Sonora keeps winning

Fans of the Sonora boys basketball in support of their team during a non league home game against Woodbridge.
Fans of the Sonora boys basketball team raise their arms up in support of Sonora's Josh Rodriguez as he shoots free throws during a nonleague home game against Woodbridge.
Woodbridge's Adjin Toskic reaches past Sonora's Aashad Womack, right, to take a shot during the second half of a nonleague boys basketball game at Sonora.
Sonora's Kevin Marlow draws a shooting foul making his way to the basket as Woodbridge's Jack Calhoun tries to block during the first half of a nonleague boys basketball game at Sonora.
Woodbridge's J.T. Okonkwo is all by himself as he dunks the ball for two points after stealing it with less than a minute to go in the first half of a nonleague boys basketball game at Sonora.
Woodbridge's Sami Soufian tries to move to the basket as Sonora's Steven Murphy reaches in to try and block during the second half of a nonleague boys basketball game at Sonora.
Sonora's Josh Rodriguez looks for an open teammate as Woodbridge's C.J. Lomboy guards the basket during the first half of a nonleague boys basketball game at Sonora.
Sonora's Josh Rodriguez grabs a rebound as Woodbridge's Scott Jackson reaches from behind during the second half of a nonleague boys basketball game at Sonora.
Woodbridge's Mitchell Rausch takes a shot against Sonora during the second half of a nonleague boys basketball game at Sonora.
Sonora's Jason Mcclung, right, grabs a loss ball as Woodbridge's Ryan Taylor tries to move in during the last seconds of the first half of a of a nonleague boys basketball game at Sonora.
Sonora's Josh Rodriguez scores as he drives to the basket while Woodbridge's C.J. Lomboy attempts to block during the first half of a nonleague boys basketball game at Sonora on Friday.

By Andrew Turner | Orange County Register

December 12, 2014 at 11:45 p.m.

LA HABRA – Adversity is part of basketball. It has found Sonora’s team early this season.

The Raiders won their fifth straight game Friday night, defeating Woodbridge, 62-50, in a nonleague boys basketball game at Sonora High.

All of those wins have come with senior leader Ben Rico watching from the sidelines. Rico suffered an ankle injury in the team’s first game of the Diablo Inferno Tournament last week. He is expected to miss at least two more weeks.

The injury has tested the chemistry of the team. Frustration and poor body language prompted Sonora coach Mike Murphy to say the Raiders (5-1) played “like a bunch of individuals” against the Warriors (2-4).

“I hated the body language. I just talked to a couple players about it,” Murphy said. “Athletics doesn’t build character, it reveals it. Ours was revealed tonight, and it’s got to improve.”

Sonora entered the season as the county’s third-ranked team. While Murphy’s squad has experienced growing pains, it has done its job on the scoreboard.

Senior guard Josh Rodriguez carried the Raiders with a 23-point, 11-rebound effort. Aashad Womack added six points and 10 rebounds as Sonora’s dominance on the offensive glass helped the Raiders maintain a comfortable lead in the second half.

Rodriguez opened the game with a pair of 3-pointers. The Raiders moved out to a 32-17 halftime lead by controlling the paint with Womack, Steven Murphy and Austin Carter.

“It’s huge, always getting us those second shots,” Rodriguez said of the team’s inside presence. “If we keep getting other shots and they don’t have the ball, that just benefits us so much.”

Woodbridge coach John Halagan said he scheduled the game to give his team a chance to get acclimated to hostile environments in league.

Woodbridge trailed, 49-29, after three quarters, but it finished strong, outscoring the Raiders by eight points in the fourth.

Adjin Toskic had 10 points and six rebounds to pace the Warriors. Sami Soufian added nine points and two blocks, and JT Okonkwo had a dunk while scoring seven points.