Sonora blows past La Habra in league opener

LA HABRA - Sonora didn't need much time to turn its Freeway League opener vs. crosstown rival La Habra into a blowout.

The No. 8 Raiders jumped to a 21-point lead in the first quarter and never let up in a 72-40 victory at Sonora High on Thursday.

Josh Rodriguez and Jimmy Golden scored 19 points each to lead Sonora (11-1) and combined for 20 of the Raiders' 27 points in the first quarter. Each hit two3-pointers in the quarter.

"We've got a lot of really good shooters, and Josh and Jimmy ... if they are on, we can score 25 in a hurry," Sonora coach Mike Murphy said.

The Highlanders (4-7) only hit two baskets in the opening quarter and didn't sink the first one until after the four-minute mark.

Zack Gray scored eight to lead the Highlanders, whose best run was a 5-0 spurt to open the second half.

The victory was the 10th in a row for the Raiders, whose last defeat was by one point to Canyon on Nov.30.

Sonora also is in the midst of a grueling portion of its schedule, playing seven games in 11 days.

The Raiders won't play another league game, however, until Jan. 5 vs. Troy.

Before that they travel south to compete in the Mt. Carmel Holiday Hoops Classic, which starts Wednesday.

"This is a weird schedule," Murphy said. "We've never had this before."