It's only the first week, but Volcano Vista boys already look strong

Nov. 30—As the final hours of November melted away, and with March a long way off, the Volcano Vista Hawks already look like a very serious group.

Their visit to La Cueva on Thursday night presented an early litmus test for the two-time defending Class 5A boys state basketball champions. And the Bears, for nearly full three quarters, were equal to the task in their season opener.

But a six-minute stretch in the second half changed everything.

Volcano Vista rattled off 14 straight points during those six minutes, and that 14-0 run was crucial for the Hawks (2-0) in a 59-44 victory.

The game was 36-all with 80 seconds to go in the third quarter.

By the time La Cueva scored again, the Bears were down 50-36 with 3 1/2 minutes left.

"It was just us being tougher," said Volcano Vista junior forward Kenyon Aguino, who scored a game-high 23 points. "During the beginning of the game, we weren't really rebounding, we weren't really hitting bodies, being physical. I felt like that last bit of the third quarter and the fourth quarter, we were tougher, more physical, wanted the ball more."

Volcano Vista scored the final five of the third quarter to lead 41-36. Freshman David Lunn III hit a pair of free throws, Davon Smith scored on a putback, and there was a late free throw.

Following a blocked shot at the other end, junior guard Rian Gonzales buried a 3-pointer for a 46-36 lead two minutes into the fourth quarter. A La Cueva turnover moments later turned into a fierce one-handed dunk for Lunn.

"We defended. And we rebounded," Volcano Vista coach Greg Brown said of the decisive run. "There's times we don't do those things. It's early, our habits, our defensive habits, aren't very solid right now. We pick and choose when to do it. I'm glad we chose the fourth quarter (tonight)."

The Hawks opened on Tuesday, beating St. Pius.

La Cueva is a team the Hawks could easily bump into once or twice more this season, hence Volcano Vista treated this matchup, even if it was the first week of the season, with some urgency.

"Every game is important," Brown said. "We knew that tonight was gonna be a big night, a big game, playing La Cueva at their place. We were ready for it."

There were five lead changes and three ties in a competitive first half. La Cueva's Tre Cowles buried a corner 3 with 2 seconds to go before halftime for a 24-21 Bears edge.

The third quarter was spirited and back-and-forth. There were five more ties, the last one at 36-36. Then it was mostly Hawks.

"We want these games," Aguino said. "We want to play the best of the best, because it translates to later in the season."

Gonzales added 15 points for Volcano Vista. Lunn, a ninth-grader who already has a Division I offer (Howard) scored eight points.

"We have some pieces that fit really well together," Brown said. "It's gonna be defensively, can we be a more consistent team."

Jojo Sanchez and Dylan Chavez, who are both 6-5, each scored 10 points for the Bears.

"They're huge, they're physical, and they're gonna have something to say down the stretch," Brown said of La Cueva.

VOLCANO VISTA 59, LA CUEVA 44

VOLCANO VISTA (2-0): David Gutierrez 5, David Lunn III 8, Eli Salas 1, Hudson Brown 4, Rian Gonzales 15, Brendan Rice 1, Kenyon Aguino 23, Davon Smith 2. Totals 18 18-22 59.

LA CUEVA (0-1): Cam Dyer 4, Javion Jones 3, Jojo Sanchez 10, Brandon Bartlett 2, Dylan Chavez 10, Daniel Lovato 6, Eric Jacobsen 2, Tre Cowles 7. Totals 19 4-5 44.

Volcano Vista 9 12 20 18 — 59

La Cueva 9 15 12 8 — 44

3-point goals: VV 5 (Gonzales 3, Gutierrez, Aguino); LC 2 (Jones, Cowles). Total fouls: VV 10; LC 23. Fouled out: LC, Dyer.