Knights win barn-burner against Eagles, 35-27
The Cambridge boys junior varsity boys basketball team emerged from a rock 'em-sock 'em game against Christian Learning with a 35-27 victory Friday afternoon in the Eagles gym
It was a closer battle than the final score would indicate. The Eagles led 7-6 at the end of the first quarter, and 18-13 at the half. The Eagle lead had been as wide as 18-8, but Knight standout Jose Ribera finally got loose from the close defensive shackles Eagle Cesar Flores had tried to keep him in, and notched six of Cambridge's seven points in the second quarter.
Rivera, who is 16 and older than most of the other players on the floor, exploded after that, ultimately scoring 18 of his 30 points in the second half. Rivera has been a star for the Knight varsity for the past two years as well.
At the end of the third quarter the Knights were ahead 22-19. In the fourth quarter Josiah Canaviri, who had taken over the task of trying to stop Rivera after Flores got in foul trouble, fouled out himself. At that point there was no stopping Rivera -- and Cambridge.
In addition to scoring all of Cambridge's 13 fourth quarter point, Rivera blocked several Eagle drives. By the end of the fourth River seemed to be challenging the Eagles to catch-me-if-you-can. And no one could.
In addition to Rivera's 30 points (including a three-pointer), Juan Carlos Paniagua had three points for Cambridge, and Gabriel Alonzo two.
For Christian Learning, Flores tallied 11 points. Canaviri, Esteban de Sosa and Richard Enns had four each. Haziel Martinez and Luke Phillips both had two points.
Based on reporting by Keith Wilcke, Christian Learning.
