Humboldt Cubs take first place at Pleasanton tourney

ThPLEASANTON — David Taylor admits his Humboldt High basketball team can be fun to watch when the Cubs are at their defensive best.
Unless you’re an opponent.
The Cubs were clicking on all cylinders Friday, exploding out the gates to lead 28-5 after one quarter.
Humboldt never looked back, crushing Uniontown 81-38 in the final round of the Pleasanton Midseason Tournament. Humboldt went 3-0 in tournament play and brings a 10-2 overall record into Tuesday’s Tri-Valley League game at Yates Center.
“I was really pleased with the way we played, but I was really, really pleased with our style of play,” said Taylor, head coach. “Our defensive intensity was really good again. We were obviously very efficient, and we were unselfish.”
Senior guard Kason Siemens was a one-man wrecking crew. He poured in 15 points in the first quarter alone, as part of his game-high 21. Only one other Humboldt player reached double figures, although all 13 players who suited up scored.
Humboldt’s lead stood at 50-17 at halftime. The lead grew to 70-30 by the end of the third quarter, when Taylor ran exclusively reserves and junior varsity players.
The Cubs had 23 assists to only nine turnovers.
“I like that margin,” he said. “Every kid who comes in knows they have to maintain that intensity level. We did that tonight.”
Rayce Hoepker came off the bench to score 10 points for Humboldt.
Jake Haviland and Ethan Bartlett both scored eight points. Justin Meins had seven assists and five steals. Corey Whitcomb had five assists and four steals. Haviland dished out four assists. Bryce Issac led Humboldt with five rebounds.
Cale Coyan’s seven points led Uniontown. Jesse Kuns scored six.
Uniontown (6-11-13-8—38) (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Schafer 0-3-1-3, Bradbury 0-4-2-4, Coyan 0/2-1-0-7, Kuns 0-6-0-6, George 2-0-4-4, Elder 2-1-2-5, Cooper 0-2-0-2, Allen 2-1-1-5, Sutterby 1-0-2-2. TOTALS: 7/2-18-12-38.
Humboldt (28-22-20-11—81) (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Vanatta 2-1-1-5, Whitcomb 1-0-1-2, Korte 1-0-0-2, Carpenter 2-1-1-5, Hoepker 5-0-1-10, Pulliam 1-2-2-4, Haviland 4-0-1-8, Bartlett 3-2-3-8, Issac 0-3-2-3, Meins 1-0-0-2, Doran 2-1-2-5, Siemens 3/4-3-2-21, Smith 0/2-0-4-6. TOTALS: 25/6-13-20-81.