PANTHER BOYS STOP SPARTANS IN PLAYOFF OPENER
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(2/22/08 Chico, CA) The Chico boys' varsity basketball team opened up the Northern Section Division II playoffs by defeating Red Bluff 52-40 Friday at "The Panther Pit."
 
The Spartans started off with a three-pointer from Ben Redfield 46 seconds into the game. A basket by Rex Holmes with 4:13 remaining in the first quarter gave the Panthers their first points of the contest. Holmes hit another shot with 2:11 to go in the first as Chico pulled within two points at 6-4. Tony Gagliano made two technical free throws with 33 seconds left to give Red Bluff a 10-4 lead.
 
Holmes made the Panthers' first bucket of the second quarter with 7:03 remaining in the period. A pair of free throws by Collin Ramirez with 5:33 to go in the first half allowed the Spartans to take the lead back at 12-10. Zach Stidham made one of two free throws with 3:16 left in the half as Chico went up 16-15. A free throw by Lance Zazueta with 1:40 to go in the period brought Red Bluff within four points at 20-16.
 
A three from Nate Anderson 11 seconds into the third quarter moved the Panthers ahead 25-20. Cole McKenzie hit a bucket with seven minutes to go in the period for the Spartans' first points of the second half. Kevin Loustale made a shot with 3:12 left in the third to give Chico a 34-22 advantage. Holmes connected on a hoop with two minutes to go in the quarter as the Panthers extended their lead to 38-22.
 
Dylan Brown made a basket with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to push Chico's lead to 42-24. McKenzie's shot 14 seconds later gave Red Bluff its first points of the period. McKenzie added two free throws with 3:29 to go in the contest as the Spartans came within nine points at 44-35. Jordan Kenoyer hit a pair of free throws with 1:46 left as the Panthers took a 49-40 lead.
 
Holmes led Chico with 19 points. He also collected six rebounds. Anderson added 10 points and four rebounds, while Kayhan Karatekeli scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds. McKenzie paced Red Bluff with 13 points and four rebounds, while Gagliano scored eight points.
 
Next up for the Panthers will be a trip to Palo Cedro Wednesday, Feb 27 for a second round meeting with top-seeded Foothill. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.