Bearcats basketball team falls to Lompoc in first league game
– Following a competitive preseason, the Paso Robles High School basketball team (10-7, 0-1 Ocean) kicked off their Ocean League season Friday night, facing Lompoc in the league opener at Gil Asa Gymnasium.
In a nail-biting finish, the Bearcats came up just short of their goal, falling to the Braves 67-66 in a closely contested matchup.
The Bearcats faced a tough start, falling behind early as the Braves capitalized on swift transition plays, setting up on offense before the Bearcats could recover defensively.
“Slow start, and it’s our first league game,” head coach Chris Lopez said. “But we’ll learn from it.”
With more play to continue, the Bearcats recollected themselves as a team and created more concise plays and passes to connect with the basket better. At halftime, the Bearcats trailed by two points after outscoring the Braves 24-18 in a stronger second-quarter performance.
“Our energy got a little better on the defensive end,” Lopez said. “More shots started to fall in, so that helped.”
Fire alarm erupts in the gym, game continues
Just minutes before halftime, the fire alarm in Gil Asa Gymnasium erupted, with the siren blaring uncontrollably. Although the referees paused the game in an attempt to resolve the issue, play eventually resumed as no immediate solution was in sight.
Officials reassured everyone that there was no immediate danger and that the alarm was linked to an issue in the wrestling room.
The alarm continued blaring all through halftime up until 1:30 remaining in the third quarter.
“Outside factors like that can disrupt the flow of the game,” Lopez said. “We tried to keep our heads up and understand we cannot control everything.”
Final minutes of play
As soon as the fourth quarter began, it was clear the game could go either way. The Bearcats had done a much better job keeping the deficit within reach.
Senior guard Adane Siegrist nailed a three-pointer, and while the Bearcats held the lead for a brief moment, Lompoc quickly answered with a shot of their own, sparking a back-and-forth battle.
Siegrist led the team in points tonight, recording 15 points. Following behind was senior guard Omaree Daniloff, ending the night with 14 points.
As the Bearcats trailed by one point, 67-66, a technical foul was called on a Braves player, sending Daniloff to the free-throw line with a chance to regain the lead. However, both free throws were missed, and the Bearcats ultimately fell short, losing 67-66.
“This was a big reality check for us today,” Lopez said. “When it comes to league time, every team is going to give us their best effort, no matter their record. We need to expect teams to play really hard.”
What’s next?
The Bearcats will face Lompoc again later this month, but this time on their home court. With more games left in the Ocean League, the Bearcats will look to come out stronger in their next matchup, aiming to secure an early advantage and avoid trailing their opponent.
The Bearcats will play Pioneer Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 6:30 p.m. on the road.
-Photos and story by Joslen Jimenez
