The Golden Valley boys’ basketball team has completed the first quarter of the Foothill League season unbeaten as the Grizzlies defeated the Canyon Cowboys, 70-49, at home en route to a 4-0 start.
After the game on Tuesday, Golden Valley coach Travis Divita said the win is a product of the team clicking on all cylinders as the Grizzlies are figuring out their identity on defense.
“They played extremely hard. You know, our identity is how we play defense, and as long as we all stay connected together, good things happen on the offensive end because of that,” he said.
The Grizzlies (13-6, 4-0) had senior guard Alex Villejo led the team in scoring with 23 points on offense and five steals on defense.
Junior guard Donovan Webb was second in scoring behind Villejo as he dropped 17 points with five rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
It’s a huge turnaround for the Grizzlies since the team’s last league game against the Hawks in December when Golden Valley defeated Hart 43-28.
Divita added that off nights on offense in basketball are a part of the game and told his team all that matters is how they respond and work on the issues to prevent them from happening.
The Grizzlies scoring 70 points against Canyon reinforces what Divita has been asking his team to work on.
“Some days you have it on offense, and some days, it’s a little tougher than others,” he said. “Alex had it going today. Donovan had it going on today. I thought we passed the ball extremely well all night. We had some turnovers here and there, but overall, we really shared the ball, and we let the ball decide who was going to be the guy tonight.”
As for Canyon (11-7, 1-3), senior guard Isaac Yuhico scored 23 points on Golden Valley’s defense as he led the Cowboys in scoring.
Prior to the matchup, Yuhico entered the night with six 30-point performances and has been a difference maker for the Cowboys.
Yuhico and the Cowboys will look to rebound from the league loss on Friday on the road against the Valencia Vikings.
The Grizzlies will prepare to be tested in the next two league games as they take on the Saugus Centurions on Friday at home and hit the road to Valencia to take on the Vikings on Tuesday.
Divita knows the next few games are going to be tough but that the team will be ready as they ride their league-winning momentum.
“They always play hard. They’re well coached as well. The game doesn’t change,” he said in response to how the team will prepare for Saugus. “Essentially, we got to focus on who we are as a defensive team, play hard, play for one another and we’ll let the chips fall where they lie at the end of the day.”
After Tuesday night’s games, here are scores from around the Foothill League.
Saugus 65, Hart 52: The Centurions (13-6, 4-1) defeated the Hart Hawks (10-8, 1-3) behind Braydon Harmon’s double-double performance.
Harmon scored 17 points and tallied 19 rebounds in the win and will lead the Centurions to their next game on the road Friday against the Golden Valley Grizzlies.
The Hawks will look to rebound on Friday as they host the Castaic Coyotes as both games tip off at 6:30 p.m.
West Ranch 60, Valencia 58: The Wildcats (6-11, 3-2) pulled out the narrow win at home over the Vikings (10-8, 2-2).
Steve Irons was Valencia’s leading scorer with 22 points, and Issac Michel-Zavala and Romel McCoy were out due to injury.
The Wildcats are 3-2 in league play and play next Tuesday against the Hart Hawks.
The Vikings will look to bounce back at home as they host the Canyon Cowboys with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Photos below from Golden Valley’s win over Canyon:
