As the clock ran down on Tuesday evening’s important South Yosemite Horizon League matchup against a tough Mira Monte team, a smile formed on Suns starter Keenan Starling’s face as he got up from the bench.
Starling played almost every single minute of the first three quarters, but he got to rest in the fourth as Del Oro started to build a double-digit lead against the Lions. It was the team’s final home game of the regular season.
Starling, a four-year starter at point guard, said he had dreamed about being honored on senior night since his freshman year.
“I was watching upperclassmen playing,” he said. “I’m like, man, I’ve got to get there one day. I worked my butt off and I got there. Now look at us.”
Suns varsity head coach Mike Cardenas said he’s been impressed with how his seniors have developed since their freshman years.
“Progressing through the years has been amazing, watching them grow up,” he said. “Watching them not catch the ball to catching the ball, to being able to talk louder, to being able to pick each other up.”
The Lions trailed the entire game but kept the score close for the first three quarters. At the end of the first quarter, the Suns held a two-point lead to make the score 15-13. In the second quarter, Mira Monte trailed by only one point as the Suns entered halftime with a 29-28 lead.
Starling led the Suns in scoring during the first half with 8 points, followed by Ivan Jaime with 7 points and Mark Villa with 5 points.
The Suns started to pull away from Mira Monte during the third quarter with a 46-42 lead. Del Oro kept the pressure on the Lions in the fourth quarter and closed the game out with a final score of 72-58. With the win, Del Oro took over first place in the SYHL.
According to MaxPreps.com, Starling finished the game with a triple-double of 21 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. Starling said it was his first career triple-double. MaxPreps also reported that Villa finished the game with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Tuesday’s game was Del Oro’s second consecutive win since a non-league loss to Centennial in late January. The Suns are 15-10 overall (6-1 SYHL) and will close out the regular season on the road with a league battle against Arvin. On Thursday against non-league opponent East, the Suns beat the Blades, 54-39.
After the Mira Monte game, Cardenas was in an upbeat mood with respect to how his seniors have played this season.
“They’ve grown into basketball players,” he said with a smile, “Better than that, they’ve grown up into young men.”
