Schools
Boys Basketball: Nighthawks Start Fast, Defeat Broncos 63-54
Murrieta Valley Nighthawks improve to 2-1 in league play while Murrieta Mesa drops a heartbreaker, 64-63 to Temecula Valley.
Murrieta Valley varsity boys basketball took control of Wednesday's Southwestern League game against Vista Murrieta from the opening tip off, exploding with 25 points in the first period.
The Broncos played great basketball for the rest of the game, even outscoring the Nighthawks in the second and third periods. In the end, they just could not overcome Murrieta Valley's fast start and a 16-point first period deficit.
Kevin Padlo led all scorers with 20 points for the Nighthawks. Mitchell Lenhart scored 15, Tyler Bilton 12 and Thomas Alexandre six for MVHS. Jacob Forte and Jordan Williams brought three points each.
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Rounding out the Nighthawk scoring, Reid Bohanan and Talon Watkins each had two points.
Freshman Austin Beech was the Broncos' leading scorer with 13 points. Jeremy Zorotovich scored 12 points and led the team in rebounds with 10. Jacob Perry added eight points while Westin Long and Peter Manu both had four. Nick Stevens contributed two.
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The Nighthawks travel to Chaparral Friday to take on the Pumas who are also 2-1 in league play.
The Broncos will be at Murrieta Mesa to take on the Rams who lost a heartbreaker to Temecula Valley 64-63 last night.
Shane Staton led the Ram attack with 19 points in the loss. Shondell Smith scored 16, Austin Bryant eight while Trevon Session and Khalil Sharpe both had six. Andrew Smith also scored four points as Shane Bryant and Camry Smith both had two apiece.
