Local Playoff Roundup
PHS boys basketball advances to semifinals
The Porterville High boys basketball team had a solid game against the Clovis Cougars on Friday night at Sharman Gum. Despite an early Cougar lead the Panthers took the game back in the second half for a strong win 6150. The Panthers now progress to the semifinals of the 2023 CIF Central Section Boys Basketball Championships.
The Panthers starting lineup consisted of Cooper Fish, Sebastian Mascorro, Andrew Moody, Erik Odsather, and Camden Haynes. The game started with a quick tip off and Cougar layup in the first six seconds of play. Odsather had a free throw he nailed after a foul by the Cougars to put the game 2-1.
The Cougars started to pull ahead with multiple layups and rebounds of Panther misses.
The Panthers Haynes had a solid play starting with a rebound by Fish. Fish nabbed a rebound after the Cougars missed a jump shot and he tossed it over to Haynes to take down the court. Haynes had to pass to Moody as the Cougars swarmed him and Haynes pulled around to an open spot in the Cougars key. Moody passed back over the Cougars heads over to Haynes for a behind the back layup that he sank to bring PHS to within 6-3
The Panthers took a back seat to the Cougars as they pulled ahead to lead 14-9. But the second quarter had a strong comeback from the Panthers as they scored double what the Cougars did. A layup from Haynes led into a rebound and second layup that brought the Panthers ahead 15-14. There was no time spent between plays as the Panthers Odsather snagged a steal from the Cougars and made a full court for a layup bringing the lead up 17-14.
The Cougars were able to snag a layup to begin the second half but the Panthers were right behind them with a 3-pointer from Fish in the early first seconds of the second half. Now tied 20-20 the Panthers had possession and brought it around for Mascorro to nab a nice 3-point. The fierce battle continued with the Panthers getting another layup off of a Cougar missed
shot. A rebound by Julian Seratto started a solid push for the Panthers with the ball flying over to Fish to take down the court. Fish was blocked with three defenders meaning he had to make a toss to Moody for him to take down the court. Moody passed by the Cougar defenders and then made a fast pass to Haynes who leaped and got a layup for the lead 35-34.
During the last two minutes of the third quarter the Panthers snagged another 10 points and a half court hail mary toss as the buzzer blew Moody swished a three.
The Panthers final margin was secured by Moody as he made both free throw attempts, bringing the game to its end at 6150.
GIRLS SOCCER
PHS 2 Caruthers 1 Porterville advanced to the semifinals of the Valley playoffs with the comeback win against Caruthers.