Williams can't answer Portola attack

Not much went right for the Williams High boys basketball team against visiting Portola on Friday.

The press led to four quick points for the Yellowjackets, but the Tigers responded with a 24-5 run the rest of the first quarter on their way to defeating Williams 59-32.

"They made an adjustment and we didn't adjust to their adjustment very well. That's the way it goes," Williams coach Travis Hayes said.

Williams rallied back with a 7-0 run to start the second quarter but failed to score for the next 13 minutes. By the time senior guard Jose Alcaraz finally broke the scoring drought with a shot from the baseline with 17 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Portola led 47-18.

Alcaraz was the 'Jackets lone bright spot on offense, scoring 11 points while shooting 3-for-11 from behind the three-point line. The rest of the team shot 2-for-20 from long range.

"We stopped moving the ball, we just wouldn't pass the ball. I mean, one more pass and we had guys wide open and we just didn't make the pass," Hayes said.

Portola's strength inside the paint led to second-chance points all game. Oscar Romero and Flint Fambrough led the Tigers with 16 points each and Ricky Lowdermilk added 14.

Adolfo Davalos scored five points for Williams, and Leo Tapia, Eduardo Velazquez and Sal Garcia each scored four. Antonio Camberos made four steals and grabbed five rebounds, and Ben Mayes led the Yellowjackets with six boards.

Williams (5-18, 2-4 MVL-South) was active on defense, picking up 10 steals, but managed just 25 rebounds all game.

Portola (13-13, 6-0 MVL-South) earned the No. 8 seed in the playoffs but the Yellowjackets missed out on a spot in the postseason.

CONTACT Kirk Barron at 458-2121 or kbarron@tcnpress.com.