Roundup: Golden Valley looks like CCC favorite after repeating as Godinez champions
The Golden Valley High boys basketball team is starting to gain some momentum.
The Cougars picked up their fifth consecutive win with a 52-36 victory over Turlock in the championship game of the Godinez Tournament at Turlock High on Saturday night.
Despite an off shooting night, Golden Valley (6-4) is again looking like the team to beat in the Central California Conference.
“When we start shooting we’re going to be pretty good,” said Cougars coach Keith Hunter, whose team will try to win back-to-back CCC championships this season. “Our defense this past week has been really impressive.”
The Cougars gave up just over 43 points per game in wins over Riverbank, Beyer and Turlock in the three-day tournament. It was the second year in a row Golden Valley has won the Godinez Tournament.
Golden Valley won this year’s tournament without one of its key players, with guard Zack Fernandez not with the team because of an illness.
The Cougars did have the services of senior Avery Townsel, who saw his first action of the year after injuring his shoulder during the football season.
Townsel made an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. Townsel scored six points against Turlock after scoring 31 points in the first two games of the tournament.
Senior Aurrion Harris took over the ball-handling duties without Fernandez. He was named the MVP of the tournament after scoring 15 points against the Bulldogs (5-5) and averaging 13 points in the three wins. Golden Valley’s Christian Magallanes was named Outstanding Player of the Tournament after scoring 16 points in the championship game..
“Aurrion has been a leader and has done a great job of keeping his composure,” Hunter said. “We are asking him to a do a lot. He’s probably averaging 14 rebounds, 10 to 12 points and three to four assists per game. He’s filling up the box score for us. He’s doing it and being a great teammate with his positive attitude.”
Harris doesn’t mind the extra responsibilities asked of him.
“I had to take care of the ball,” Harris said. “I had to step up with Zack out. Coach told me to step up and be a leader and I just stepped up.”
Golden Valley will head back to Turlock to play the Bulldogs again on Monday before heading to the Red Bluff Tournament later next week.
Girls Basketball
El Cacpitan 57, Union Mine 30 in Shingle Springs — Hannah Urtiz was named the MVP of the Battle in the Foothills Tournament after scoring 24 points for the Gauchos in the championship game on Saturday.
El Capitan (5-5) went 3-0 in the tournament with wins over Ponderosa, Burbank and Union Mine.
Gauchos senior Caly Curran was named to the all-tournament team after scoring 21 points against Burbank.
Golden Valley 45, Mission Oak 42 in Fresno — Charde’ Proctor led the Cougars (8-4) with 13 points as GV wrapped up the Hoover Holiday Tournament with a 2-2 record.
The Cougars also had a win over Clovis East and lost to Hoover and Bullard in the four-day tournament.
Malaysia Lucero added 11 points and Isela Gonzalez scored 10 points against Mission Oak.
This story was originally published December 14, 2019 at 10:17 PM.
