Benicia Panthers Claim First Win with 66-52 Triumph Over Vacaville

The Benicia High School boys basketball team secured its first victory of the season, defeating Vacaville High School 66-52 on March 5, 2024. Senior guard Zach Barnes was the standout performer, scoring a team-high 19 points, with a significant contribution coming during the second and third quarters.

Barnes demonstrated impressive control, recognizing opportunities without forcing plays. “I think just taking what was given to me and not forcing helped me,” he stated after the game. “In the first half, I had a couple of easy opportunities, but I forced for something harder. I needed to let the game come to me, and that helped me a lot.”

Benicia head coach Steve Carter acknowledged the team’s strong defensive performance in the first half but noted areas for improvement. “We played really good defense in the first half, but we lost focus in the second half,” Carter explained. “We gave up as many points in the third quarter as we did in the entire first half, which is something we need to work on.”

The Panthers established an early lead, scoring 12 points to 5 within the first quarter, driven by a 6-0 run that included a jumper from Barnes. Despite a brief resurgence from Vacaville, which narrowed the score to 17-14, Benicia responded decisively. Barnes converted a four-point play with a three-pointer while being fouled, propelling his team to a 21-14 lead.

Vacaville, struggling from the free-throw line with only two successful attempts out of eight in the second quarter, faced a daunting challenge as Benicia extended its lead to 34-19 by halftime. The Panthers maintained momentum in the third quarter, achieving their largest lead of the game at 43-25.

Vacaville began to find its rhythm in the second half, led by Braydem Sweeney-Bruce, who scored 23 points overall, and Armando Sanchez, who contributed 15 points, including 11 points in the third quarter. Coach Duane Kamman emphasized the team’s developmental focus rather than immediate wins. “We are very young and have a lot of new pieces, and we’re trying to get better as a team,” he remarked. “I think we did that in the second half tonight.”

Despite their efforts, Vacaville was unable to close the gap significantly. The Bulldogs pulled within 10 points late in the game, but Barnes responded with a crucial three-pointer that pushed the score to 54-41. He later assisted in maintaining Benicia’s lead with additional scoring plays, including a dunk from teammate Sean Sauter.

As the game progressed, both teams began to rotate in their benches, providing opportunities for less experienced players. Benicia’s Daniel Lum and Jordan Brink added to the score, rounding out the final tally at 66-49.

Reflecting on the game, Coach Carter acknowledged the need for improved team fluidity and rotation. “Tonight, our eighth and ninth men didn’t play well, so we needed to go deeper into our bench,” he noted, indicating areas for the team to focus on as the season progresses.

Both teams will look to build on their performances in the upcoming matches, with Benicia aiming to maintain its winning momentum and Vacaville seeking to solidify its team cohesion and confidence.