With the game already decided, the Madera coyote girls basketball team got little-used senior Vanessa Solis her first-ever varsity points in a 56-25 loss to the San Joaquin Memorial- Fresno Panthers.
The Panthers, a team loaded with Div. I college recruits held the Coyotes under double-digit scoring in all four quarters of the victory.
However, it was Solis that drew the cheers Friday night. The little-used player got plenty of playing time in the fourth quarter. After she was inserted into the game, she got a steal and fed the ball to Canthy Figueroa. Figueroa fed the ball back to Solis, who found a lane for the layup for her first varsity points.
“Last time, we got run out of gym by San Joaquin Memorial,” head coach Jason Smith said. “This time, we cut our deficit in half.”
The Coyotes held the Panthers to just one player in double figures. The Panthers also shot just 50 percent (12-of-24) from the free throw line. However, Madera shot just 25 percent (3-of-12) from the line.
Figueroa led eight different Coyotes who scored with eight points.
After Memorial made a free throw to open the scoring, BriAnn Houghton spun baseline for a short jumper and a 2-1 lead.
However, the Panthers scored eight straight points before Miranda Solis made a free throw. After two Panthers’ free throws, Houghton put back her own miss to cut the lead to six.
Memorial scored six straight points to close the first quarter with a 17-5 lead.
The Panthers extended the run to 12 with the first six points of the second quarter for a 23-5 lead.
Stephenie Jordan hit a 15-foot jumper, but the Panthers scored eight straight points to open a 31-8 lead before a Figueroa free throw.
After a Memorial layup, Sofia Perez found Katelyn Fernandez for a layup on an inbounds to reach double figures, trailing 33-10 at the half.
The Panthers opened the second half with seven straight points.
Kaylee Patlan banked in a 3-pointer to stop the run, but Memorial went on a 9-1 run before Figueroa made a layup to close the third quarter trailing 49-16.
After three Memorial points to open the fourth quarter, Figueroa made a layup. Then, Vanessa Solis made a steal and layup, but Memorial followed with another layup and an offensive putback.
Figueroa made a layup and Perez hit a 3-pointer for the 56-25 final.