Wildcats defeat Heritage to split season series, 57-48

Michael Witt goes up for a layup for Paloma Valley High Thursday night. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Paloma Valley High boys basketball team won its Senior Night match-up with the Heritage Patriots Thursday night, 57-48. It was the second time this season the two teams had met and the win avenged an earlier Heritage victory between the rivals.

The Wildcats came into the game with something to prove and started straightaway to prove it with a 9-0 run. The run was possible in part because of four consecutive steals from senior Anderson Tat, all of which were converted to points on the other end.

“[Anderson’s steals] were huge because, first of all, he’s a senior, but secondly because that set us up for the rest of the game,” said head coach Darius Randolph. “Our concentration has always been to get good defense then get offense in transition, and that’s what he did.”

The Wildcats’ 90 percent free throw shooting for the first 12 minutes of the game also added to their momentum, leading to a 31-22 lead at halftime, in spite of their shooting just 1 for 11 behind the arc.

“I think the nerves were in there a little bit and it means a lot to me to know that they did the small things like finishing at the free throw line to get us in this game,” Randolph said.

Heritage came back from the locker room with new energy, outscoring Paloma 12-10 in the third quarter.

By the six-minute mark in the fourth quarter, Heritage had cut the lead to as little as seven points. This was largely due to the Wildcats finding themselves in a bonus foul situation before the third quarter ended, giving the Patriots several opportunities for easy points.

The leading scorer for the Patriots, junior Aiden De Leon, capitalized on those trips to the line with eight made foul shots on the night, combined with his three shots made from the arc to make a total of 17 points.

“I’m comforted to know that Aiden made those shots. I expect it of him because he is one of our best free throw shooters,” said head Heritage coach Nyron Jones. “We just didn’t capitalize enough.”

The Patriots shot 18 for 33 at the line and out-rebounded the Wildcats, 34-28.

After the lead was cut down to seven, though, Paloma tightened its defense and got two crucial steals thanks to senior Michael Witt that were each converted. Then Witt topped that off with a deep 3-pointer to extend the lead to 13.

Heritage’s De Leon had a long 3-pointer to answer that and bring his team back within reach around the three-minute mark, but a 3-pointer from junior Tyree Cardwell sealed the deal for Paloma.

Cardwell was in just his second varsity game ever and said he had been waiting to be that “next man up” for his teammates.

“I knew I would come up to varsity at some point, but it just took time to prove to the coach that I could do it,” Cardwell said. That proof came to the tune of 13 points, four rebounds and two steals, but also in something that his coach said doesn’t make it to the stat sheet.

“He’s amazing; he’s got energy and he never quits,” Randolph said. “His energy affects us and even when he turned the ball over a couple times, he never quits. That’s what brought us here and changed the game.”

With that energy, the Wildcats pulled out a win to tie with Heritage for the third-place spot in their league, resulting in a tiebreaker game Friday that will be held at a neutral location. Paloma goes into the game hoping to ride on this win’s momentum into the playoffs. For Heritage, it’s a chance to redeem themselves for what they couldn’t do this time.

“The most important thing is we have another chance tomorrow night,” Jones said. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to do my best to get my boys amped up to come in and handle business.”

The time and location of the tiebreaker matchup game will be announced Friday morning.

Richie Silva puts up a shot during the Wildcats' win on Thursday. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Aiden De Leon sets up for a 3-point shot for Heritage during Thursday's game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)