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Legionnaires take basketball standings lead with upset win over Sharks

Prior to the May 18 basketball game between Bonsall High School and Bayfront Charter, both teams were 4-0 in Sierra League play. Bayfront took a 10-0 record into the game in Bonsall, and the Sharks were ranked first among the CIF San Diego Section's Division V teams.

Bonsall's 65-53 victory gave the Legionnaires a 5-0 league record along with sole possession of first place in the standings. The Legionnaires improved their overall record to 12-5.

"We had a signature game," said Bonsall coach Chuck Colletti.

The 2020-21 Sierra League for basketball consists of Bonsall, Bayfront Charter, Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, Coastal Academy, and High Tech High North County. Each team plays each other three times, and the first game is considered a non-league game.

Bonsall opened league play April 27 with a 54-30 home win over Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, and a May 1 non-league victory at Del Lago Academy gave Bonsall four consecutive victories.

That winning streak was broken May 6 when St. Joseph Academy obtained a 78-42 triumph in Bonsall. "We had two injuries, and we just did not play well," Colletti said.

Two players had all but six of Bonsall's points; junior Jason Suarez scored 21 points while junior Emil Watkins provided 15 points along with 10 rebounds.

Bonsall won a 51-46 contest May 7 at High Tech High North County. Watkins shared the team lead with 14 points. Another 14 points were scored by sophomore Zach Jordan. "That was his best game of the year, and he played stellar defense," Colletti said.

A May 8 trip to Wildomar resulted in Bonsall defeating Cal Lutheran by a 64-63 margin. "The play of the game was Nate Valera hitting a three with 13 seconds left to take the lead and win the game," Colletti said.

The junior's three-point basket turned a 63-61 deficit into a 64-63 lead, but the C-Hawks had enough time to win the game. Cal Lutheran missed the final shot.

"Zach Jordan and Emil Watkins played great defense," Colletti said.

Suarez had 23 points for Bonsall. Watkins contributed 18 points. Bill McGregor led Cal Lutheran's scoring with 28 points, obtaining 22 of those in the first half and only six during the second half. "We played a box in one the second half and shut him down," Colletti said.

The C-Hawks had a 36-28 halftime lead, and that advantage dwindled to 52-50 by the end of the third period.

The Legionnaires hosted High Tech High North County on May 11. Bonsall was on the preferred end of the 72-54 final score. "We shot the ball real well and played great defense," Colletti said.

Suarez led Bonsall with 19 points, Watkins sank shots worth a total of 14 points, and Valera placed 13 points of shots into the nets. Billy Rahman, who is the team's only senior, had 11 assists.

The May 13 game at Chula Vista Learning Community Charter ended as a 57-36 Bonsall win. Suarez scored 21 points, including five three-point shots. Watkins scored seven points and had eight rebounds. Ten points were scored by freshman Nathan Weinbrenner, who made all four of his free throw shots, and also grabbed nine rebounds.

Cal Lutheran avenged the previous week's loss with a 69-68 victory May 14 in Bonsall. "That was another barnburner," Colletti said.

The C-Hawks had leads of 26-6 after the first period and 48-24 at halftime. "We came back," Colletti said.

Cal Lutheran had a 69-65 advantage before a Bonsall three-pointer with nine seconds remaining. "We fouled a guy throwing the ball in. He missed a free throw. We got a shot off but did not score," Colletti said.

Missed free throws were more costly to Bonsall, who made eight of 25 shots from the charity stripe. "If we would have made 10 out of 25, which is still not good, we would have won by one," Colletti said.

Valera had 18 points in the May 14 game, all from his six successful three-point attempts.

Coastal Academy and Bonsall battled May 17 in Oceanside. The Stingrays held a 42-38 lead after three periods, but a 17-6 Bonsall advantage in the fourth quarter allowed the Legionnaires to return home with a 55-48 win. "We were actually down most of the game," Colletti said. "We played great defense in the fourth quarter to pull the game out."

Rahman had 21 points and nine assists against Coastal Academy. Suarez scored 17 points.

"It was a great team effort on the defensive end in the fourth quarter," Colletti said.

Bayfront Charter does not have a gymnasium, so the May 18 game was considered a home game for the Sharks even though it was played in Bonsall. "That was the big game of the year so far," Colletti said.

Bonsall had leads of 16-12 after one quarter, 26-20 at halftime, and 45-38 when the buzzer ended the third period. "It was a great total team effort on the defensive end," Colletti said. "Our guys were diving for loose balls. They did exactly what we needed."

The Sharks committed 22 turnovers. "That's a total team defensive effort. Everyone played defense," Colletti said.

Rahman led the Legionnaires with 17 points; Suarez dropped 15 points into the nets, and Watkins and Valera scored 11 points apiece. "It was a total balanced scoring," Colletti said.

The Sharks were unable to find a defensive method to stop Bonsall. "We beat the press," Colletti said, "We beat the man; we beat the zone."

Rahman added eight assists and also had 14 rebounds consisting of 11 defensive and three offensive boards. "I just told him, get aggressive and help rebound," Colletti said. "He's shown his maturity and leadership level all season long."

Suarez had 10 rebounds split equally between offensive and defensive ones.

"It was just a great game all the way around," Colletti said.

The Sharks' leading scorer had been averaging 18 points per game but was held to six points before he fouled out.

Bonsall was ranked seventh among Division V teams entering the week, but the wins over Bayfront Charter and sixth-ranked Coastal Academy will likely improve the Legionnaires' rating. The four highest-seeded teams will receive first-round byes in the CIF playoffs which begin June 1 and will include 12 Division V teams.

"I think mentally and physically we are prepared to take Bonsall High School to the first basketball playoff ever in school history," Colletti said

Author Bio

Joe Naiman, Writer

Joe Naiman has been writing for the Village News since 2001

 

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