THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Whitney High School Athletics

Since Whitney High School came into existence in 2005, the Wildcats boys basketball team has virtually owned its inter-city rival Rocklin. Coming into last Friday’s Quarry Classic, the Wildcats boasted a 7-1 all-time series record over the Thunder, including winning the last six. Of the two losses Whitney dealt Rocklin a year ago, the 57-51 decision in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs ended the Thunder season. Despite the rivalry’s lopsidedness, this year’s Rocklin team is a different animal. Friday night at Whitney High, the Thunder boys mounted a fourth-quarter charge to take down the host Wildcats 67-59 in a raucous atmosphere fitting for high school hoops. “It was a great game, just like we expected it to be,” said Rocklin head coach Steve Taylor, whose Thunder team improves to 21-2 and 4-1 in the Sierra Foothill League. “It was a battle the entire time. We just ended up making plays down stretch to create some separation. It was two very evenly matched teams and it was a great game for the city of Rocklin.” Rocklin, the MaxPreps No. 1-ranked D-II team in the state, got eight points from Evan Terry and six more from Jayden Siler in a pivotal fourth-quarter effort. Cory Gohl’s late 3-pointer gave the Thunder an added boost. Ethan Remmers had 20 points for a Thunder team depleted with injuries. Rocklin is without speed and scoring in junior point guard Darrius Kendall and size in 6-foot-7-inch junior forward Handre Reinecke. But Taylor says that others have answered the call. “We’re a little shorthanded, but our players have stepped up in the past week,” Taylor said. “Other guys are playing more prominent roles. It shows our versatility, what we thought was going to be strength at the beginning of year. Normally when guys get injured, teams show a drop-off, but our guys showed tremendous resolve and toughness.” Junior Ryan King has paced the Wildcats this year with 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Whitney (15-8, 2-3 SFL) plays at Del Oro (8-13, 1-4) Friday. The SFL only has one day worth of games this week, but the Thunder’s is a big one, hosting league-leader Folsom (18-5, 5-0) Friday night. The Bulldogs handed Rocklin just its second loss of the season in the SFL opener Jan. 4 at Folsom, snapping a 13-game winning streak for the Thunder. “I think our guys will be pretty fired up for the (Folsom) game,” said Taylor. “(Folsom is) arguably the best defensive team we’ve faced all year. They really make you work to score the ball. They have great balance and just do a great job playing the way they want to play with controlled tempo and playing great defense.” The Whitney girls bested Rocklin 62-41 earlier in the evening behind 19 points, seven rebounds and six steals from Jada Lewis. Whitney, who also had big numbers from Makenzie Macfarlane (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Alyssa Baker (8 and 11), moves to 14-8 and 4-1 in the SFL, which sits just behind the Folsom girls, who are also 5-0. For Rocklin, Jessie Ruffner poured in 18 points with six rebounds, three assists and five steals for the 9-14 Thunder, who fell to 0-5 in SFL play and will host Folsom (18-3, 5-0) Friday night. Lewis’ 19-point effort Friday gave her 1,487 points over her four-year varsity career for the Wildcats. Averaging more than 16 points per game this season, the senior guard headed to Portland State has a chance to eclipse 1,500 career points Friday at Del Oro (18-5, 1-4). Both boys and girls teams for Rocklin and Whitney play each other again in the regular-season finale Feb. 8 at Rocklin High.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Whitney High School Athletics

THUNDER BOYS BLAST WHITNEY IN QUARRY CLASSIC

NICK PECORARO

Placer Herald | 1/21/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Placer Herald