Local players emerge as winners in all-star hoops game
STOCKTON — Jalen Valverde throughly enjoyed the final prep basketball game of his career.
The former Elliot Christian High boys basketball player, who was part of the Eagles’ boys basketball team that posted a 29-5 record last winter, laced up his sneakers inside of Delta College’s Blanchard Gym on Friday. That’s where he and former Eagles teammate Onkar Sidhu played in the High School Basketball Game, presented by B.E.S.T. and the Kiwanis Club of Stockton. The duo were Team Gold teammates with Tokay’s Austin Dongon and Jorge Hernandez.
The quartet walked off the gym floor as winners. After a close first half, the second half had Team Gold play golden that led to a 112-85 win over Team Black. Sidhu and Dongon started the game, and Valverde and Hernandez came off the bench halfway through the game. The first and second halves of the boys’ game were treated like a men’s college game in terms of time, running 20 minutes each half.
“A whole bunch of guys that I know of,” said Valverde of the Lodi-Stockton area prep players before the game. “I think it’s going to be a fun experience. Especially to play in Stockton. I think (Friday) there will be a lot of people from our area watching it.”
Last month, Valverde played in the Six County All-Star Basketball Game at Modesto Junior College. But fans weren’t busting through the doors to watch Valverde and a group of prep boys and girls basketball players from San Joaquin, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Merced and Mariposa counties.
“It was a great game, there were a whole bunch of good guys,” said Valverde, “but not a lot of people that I know came to watch.”
Prior to the game, Valverde, who scored 17 points in Friday’s game, spoke of his enthusiasm toward stepping onto a college court. That will continue in 10 days, when temporarily moves to the Fresno area to attend Fresno City College. He will take part in the Rams’ men’s basketball summer program for five weeks. He will return to the Lodi area, but move back toward the end of July to prepare for the fall semester at Fresno City College that starts Aug. 14. He will be a business major.
In recent months, Valverde has continued to stay in basketball shape.
“I’ve been working out and
getting stronger,” Valverde said.
Part of Valverde’s workouts include cross-fit training and playing pick-up basketball games at open gyms that includes ones in Lodi and Stockton.
“That’s all I’ve been doing,” Valverde said. “Just trying to stay in shape and get ready for college.”
Valverde chose Fresno City College of Delta College because of the Rams’ style of play on the court.
“Their system fits me perfectly,” Valverde said. “It’s almost the same system we ran at Elliot. Get the ball off the rim, off the rebound and just go. Off the press, too. I think I’m just going to go in there and fit right in.”
Valdere loves the game of basketball. But the education he received at the start of his junior year at Elliot, which he transferred after attending Bear Creek and Lincoln his freshman and sophomore years, led him the deeper appreciation of an education.
“I’m thankful that I graduated from high school,” Valverde said. “I just look back as a learning step ... stay ahead and on top of everything. That’s what I’m looking to do in college.”
Sidhu shined in the all-star game. He converted the only dunk (in the first half) on a night full of missed attempts by high school stars showing off and embracing the exhibition format.
“I would’ve definitely had more ‘oomph’ and thrown it down,” said Sidhu, who will play for Cal Maritime Academy with 2016 Tokay graduate Collin Beckler. “I was a little bit gassed, but let’s not make any excuses.”
For Team Gold, West’s Isaiah Abdul posted 21 points; Dongon pitched in 18 points. Sidhu and Hernandez had 10 each. For Team Black, Edison’s Bookman poured in 13 points and Franklin’s Andrew Morel and East Union’s Gyse Hulsebosch had 10 each.
Players for both teams wore Delta College men’s basketball home and visiting jerseys.
Girls: Valenzuela, Brand help Gold team to rout
Lodi coach Brandon Shea, with Delta College women’s basketball assistant coach and former Galt basketball player standout Jessica De La Cruz, watched their Team Gold cruise to an 85-37 win over Team Black in the inaugural contest. Another Delta College in Eliza Dy, who was the Galt boys basketball coach for two seasons, served as an assistant.
Shea had the opportunity to coach forward Monica Valenzuela and guard Alexa Brand. Valenzuela, who is going to Holy Names University in Oakland on a scholarship, officially ended her prep career with a big game with 14 points. Half of her points came off offensive sets and steals at midcourt. Brand chipped in six points.
“It was fun,” Shea said. “I told them ‘hey, enjoy it.’ This is a fun game, playing with some very good players in the area. It’s just nice to see them one last time before they go onto the next level.”
Team Gold proved to be too much for the Team Black in the first half. Team Gold jumped out to a 10-2 lead after the first quarter. But in the second quarter, the Gold’s defense forced many Team Black turnovers. That paved the way toward a 32-12 halftime score. Team Gold led 56-23 after three quarters.
“The only strategy we had was have fun, play together, look for each other,” Shea said. “This was fun to watch.”
Brand will become familiar with Blanchard Gym the next two seasons. She will be attending the campus when the fall semester starts in August, and will be playing for the college’s women’s basketball team.
Like the boys games, the girls also wore the Delta College women’s basketball home and away jerseys.