Merced jumps out to early lead in crosstown rivalry win over Golden Valley
The Merced High boys basketball team started fast and never looked back as the Bears defeated Golden Valley 53-40 in a battle of crosstown rivals on Friday night on Vince Clemons Court.
Seth Mays-Meneley scored seven points to spark an 11-0 run midway through the first quarter as the Bears opened up a 15-4 lead. Mays-Meneley went on to score a season-high 18 points.
“He was huge,” said Merced coach Adrian Sanchez, whose team improved to 11-9 overall and 2-2 in the Central California Conference. “He’s a kid that has that capability. I’ve seen it in spurts. I’ve seen him do it in practice and during spurts in games. Tonight was his night to step out of the shadow and get it done.”
Sanchez says the tone for the game was set during Thursday’s practice.
He says one of the biggest talking points he’s had for his team this year is showing up every day. He’s preached that every game they can control their effort and energy.
“Yesterday at practice we had 12 guys getting after it,” Sanchez said. “They were all diving on the floor for the ball. That practice is what made today successful.”
Merced stretched the lead to 30-15 at the half as the Bears never really let the Cougars back in the game.
Jaylen Thao-Booth knocked down some big 3-pointers to help thwart any GV comeback. Thao-Booth finished with 12 points. Fellow senior Gabe Celzo shipped in with 11 points for Merced.
Mateo Tangaan poured in 29 points to lead Golden Valley to a win over Patterson on Wednesday night.
At times it looked like the Cougars (7-12, 2-1 CCC) were counting on Tangaan to carry them to another win against the Bears.
Tangaan started the second half hot, scoring 10 points in the first 3 minutes of the third quarter, but Golden Valley was held scoreless the final 5:10 of the third quarter and trailed 39-25 heading into the fourth quarter.
Tangaan scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half.
Golden Valley had no other players finish with more than seven points.
“We were watching one on one basketball,” said Cougars coach Derrick Jacobs. “Basketball is not a one person game. It’s a team game and sometimes our team relies on one player.”
Jacobs felt his players weren’t mentally ready for the game.
“It’s been an issue all year,” Jacobs said. “It’s been a roller coaster. When we show up we get wins, but sometimes we revert to middle school basketball. We’ve been inconsistent all year.”
Both teams have games with El Capitan next up on their schedule. The Cougars host El Capitan (12-6 overall, 3-0 CCC) on Saturday at 6 p.m. Merced hosts El Capitan on Wednesday.
