Coyotes outshot by Dinuba Emperors
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera’s K’Veon Jones rises up for two of his team-high 15 points Monday.
The Madera Coyotes boys basketball team couldn’t match the shooting ability of the Dinuba Emperors in a 79-52 non-conference loss in Joe Flores Gym.
The Emperors made 14 3-pointers, including five from Nate Carrion, who scored a game-high 21 points, and four from Luke Rodriguez. Meanwhile, the Coyotes were just 5-of-17 on their attempts (29 percent) in Tuesday’s loss. “They definitely caught a rhythm,” head coach David Lozano said. “I was proud that we kept flying out to the shooters. We were preaching to keep flying out. We got a hand up on most of those shots. They shot the heck out of the ball. Credit to Dinuba.” The Coyotes also committed 28 turnovers, which accounted for 34 Dinuba points. “We’re stressing everyday in practice about fundamentals,” Lozano said. “You don’t have to split the trap. We’re stressing jump stops and pass fakes. It’s better than earlier in the season, but there’s still work to do on that.” K’Veon Jones led the Coyotes with 15 points. Art Flores added 13 points and hit three 3-pointers. However, with the tough County/Metro Athletic Conference schedule coming up, Lozano was trying to build momentum entering league and it hasn’t worked out. “There’s still a lot to play for,” Lozano said. “The seniors have a lot of pride and they are going to give it their all for the rest of the season. That’s all we can do.” After the Emperors jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, the Coyotes scored the next seven points. Flores started the scoring with a 3-pointer. Jones made two layups for a 7-4 lead. However, Dinuba went on an 11-0 run to jump out to a 15-7 lead. Christian Aguilar hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to five at the end of the first quarter. Flores made two of three free throws to get the lead down to three, but that was as close as Madera got for the rest of the game. Despite a driving Jones layup, Dinuba hit three straight 3-pointers to jump out to a 26-14 lead after an 11-2 run. Jesus Arzola scored inside, but Dinuba answered with a jumper. Aguilar hit a 3-pointer, but Rodriguez answered with one of his own. Jones picked off a Dinuba pass and put down a one-handed dunk for Madera’s highlight of the night. Dinuba closed the first half on a 9-0 run for a 40-21 lead. Dinuba outscored the Coyotes 25-11 in the quarter. The Emperors increased the run to 20-0 after scoring the first 11 points of the third quarter, all before the Coyotes could take a second half shot after six turnovers. Arzola took Madera’s first shot of the second half with five minutes left. Jones made two free throws and Eli Escheik added another while the Emperors went cold. Flores picked off a pass and went in for a layup for Madera’s first field goal of the second half with three minutes left in the quarter. Flores hit a 3-pointer and Aguilar scored off an inbounds pass for a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 51-31. Dinuba stopped the run with a 3-pointer and a jumper. Jared Smith scored down low for the Coyotes for a 56-33 Dinuba lead heading into the fourth quarter. Jones made a free throw and Flores hit a 3-pointer to open the fourth. However, Dinuba came back with eight straight points, six on two 3-pointers, to open the lead to 27. Raelon Hill scored on a layup and Raeshaun Hill put back his brother’s miss for a bucket. After another Dinuba 3-pointer, Jones scored on a drive. From there, Dinuba and Madera matched buckets. Raelon Hill made a layup, but Dinuba hit a 3-pointer. Alek Trukki scored on a short jumper, but Dinuba made a layup. Jones put back his own miss, but Dinuba made another layup. Christian Perez made a layup, but Dinuba hit a jumper and a 3-pointer before Madera’s Komari Law closed the scoring with a layup.
