The Whitney High School boys basketball team opened the Whitney Holiday Classic tournament with a slow start, but picked up the pace in the second half en route to a 63-53 victory over North Valleys Thursday night.

The win moved the host club into the winners’ side of the bracket to face Natomas tonight at 8 p.m.

The Wildcats were down 31-26 at halftime, plagued by turnovers, miscues and poor shooting. In the second quarter, North Valleys shot 3-for-9 from 3-point range and 7-8 from the free-throw line.

“We’re trying to break out of the old Whitney way, to play to win the game instead of to get into a game,” said Wildcats head coach Nick French. “We just didn’t play hard in the first half.”

But the Wildcats came out in the second half ready to play. They opened the third period with a 13-0 run to take a 39-31 lead. Whitney’s intensity was evidenced by increased hustle and a never-give-up attitude.

The Wildcats’ intensity pinned the Panthers to a four-point third quarter, as they came up empty on five attempted shots from beyond 3-point range. In the second half, the ‘Cats outscored North Valleys 37-22.

“Coach told us to step up; that I needed to step up and to be a leader for us,” said senior guard Cameron Ripple.

Ripple scored nine in the third period and was a key to Whitney’s success in the final half.

In the fourth quarter, Ripple’s effort lifted the Wildcats morale by his being at the right place at the right time. He scored another nine points, and made key assists and steals later in the frame.

But the Panthers refused to go away. They met every push by the Wildcats with a shove of their own. A missed shot by Whitney was answered with one made by North Valleys.

Two crucial back-to-back 3-pointers by North Valleys off Whitney turnovers cut the Wildcats’ lead to 49-43 with 5 minutes left. But he host club refused to let the Panthers’ fast-paced offense change the momentum.

With 45 seconds left and Whitney up 59-51, North Valleys was forced to foul and the ‘Cats connected on crucial free throws to keep the Panthers late push at bay.

North Valleys will face Argonaut tonight at 5 p.m. Buhach Colony opens the day versus Vallejo at 3:30 and Center meets Del Oro at 6:30.

source: http://www.placerherald.com/article/whitney-uses-second-half-surge-defeat-north-valleys-classic-opener