PANTHER FROSH BOYS ROLL THROUGH VIKINGS
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(1/18/08 Chico, CA) The Chico boys' freshman basketball team cruised to a 51-28 win over cross-town rival Pleasant Valley Friday at Acker Gym.
 
Casey Holmes hit a three-pointer 17 seconds into the game for the Panthers' first score. Henry Dalrymple answered back with a bucket of his own 17 seconds later for the Vikings' first points. A three-pointer by Kurt Kitayama with 3:16 remaining in the first quarter gave Chico an 11-6 lead. Darren Thomas capped off the first period by making a basket with three seconds left as PV trailed 16-13.
 
Aaron Ellis opened the Vikings' second quarter scoring with a hoop two minutes into the period. A pair of free throws by Drew Hogan with 5:41 remaining in the first half put the Panthers up 18-15. A free throw by Sterling Smith with 2:05 to go in the half allowed Chico to take a 24-15. Dalrymple ended Pleasant Valley's scoring drought by making a shot with seven seconds left as the Vikings were down 28-17.
 
Clayton Eagleton made a three-point shot almost a minute into the third quarter to allow PV to cut its deficit to eight points at 28-20. Brett Loughlin responded 19 seconds later with a basket of his own as the Panthers reached 30 points.  A pair of free throws by Dylan Burington with 2:22 remaining in the third brought the Vikings within 15 points at 40-25. Hogan connected on a hoop with 1:19 left in the period as Chico took a 42-25 advantage.
 
Smith made one of two free throws with 7:02 remaining in the fourth quarter to push the Panther lead to 47-25. Ellis' basket with 4:39 to go in the game kept Pleasant Valley's deficit at 20 points. Kyle Velasquez made a shot with 3:05 left to give Chico a 49-28 lead.
 
Kitayama was the Panthers' leading scorer with 21 points. Smith and Holmes each scored eight points as Smith also collected 10 rebounds and Holmes grabbed six. Burington had 10 points and four rebounds for the Vikings.