Rancho Verde falls to Etiwanda, 52-41, in boys basketball

10:00 PM PST on Monday, January 21, 2008

By ERIC-PAUL JOHNSON
The Press-Enterprise

RIVERSIDE - Moreno Valley Rancho Verde was the latest team trying to pin the first loss on Etiwanda's record, but the Mustangs instead became the latest victim of the Baseline League's perennial powerhouse program.

Rancho Verde got off to a fast start offensively, but the Mustangs could not sustain momentum past the first quarter and fell to Etiwanda, 52-41, in the Martin Luther King Jr. Inland Invitational at King High.

"They played great defense, and we weren't making the smartest decisions on offense," Rancho Verde coach Travis Showalter said. "They also got to many more loose balls than we did. They played harder and seemed to want to win the game more than we did in the second half."

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Photos By Paul Alvarez / The Press-Enterprise

Etiwanda's Tim Pendergraph soars in an attempt to block the shot of Rancho Verde's Kwame Alexander during the Martin Luther King Jr. Inland Invitational on Monday at Riverside King High School.

Rancho Verde (13-6) successfully pushed the tempo in the opening minutes of the game. Mike Snaer and Max Carrier scored six points apiece as the Mustangs took a 17-13 lead after the first quarter.

Etiwanda (20-0) quickly stepped up its defensive pressure, making it difficult for the Mustangs to run their offense. Rancho Verde went more than seven minutes without a field goal in the first half.

The Eagles chipped away at the deficit and eventually took the lead with two minutes left in the half. Etiwanda never trailed again.

"I was a little worried how we'd come out today, playing this game on a holiday and in the afternoon," Etiwanda coach Dave Kleckner said. "We were on our heels to start, but we got into the flow of the game.

"We scouted them pretty well, and we told our kids, 'Be prepared to play, because if you're not, they will embarrass you.' "

Rancho Verde played solid defense, as well, forcing the Eagles into 24 turnovers. However, the Mustangs were unable to take advantage at the other end of the floor, making just 4 of 20 shots from the field over the second and third quarters combined.

"We missed shots that could have got us back," Showalter said.

Snaer, who is being recruited by several Division I colleges, finished with a game-high 15 points. Carrier added eight points.

Rome Draper and Christian Katuala scored 10 points apiece to lead Etiwanda, which is ranked No. 11 in the state by CalHiSports.com.