By Nazaret Jarekian
The Mirror Staff
SPORTS
The Wolves Head to the Finals
February 27, 2017
BOY’S BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: Leading Scorer Tyree Winborn scores 26 for Semi-Final Win
The Van Nuys Wolves Basketball team made it to the CIFLACS Finals after beating Monroe High 75-65 in the Semi-Finals on Feb. 24 played at North Hollywood High.
Carrying on the momentum from the 41-point win against Animo-Venice, the Wolves opened the game hot, scoring 20 points in the first quarter and building a 9-point lead early on.
The Wolves kept the offensive pressure on Monroe but struggled to increase their lead, leading to a stalemate in points scored in the 2nd quarter 19-19, but Van Nuys managed to carry a 39-30 lead at the end of the first half.
With the game still up for grabs, the Wolves needed to create some separation in the second half to nail Monroe and prevent a comeback.
In the third quarter, the Wolves extended their lead to double-digits, 56-44, allowing Monroe to score only 14 points in the period.
With a 12-point lead entering the final quarter, the Wolves had to prevent a huge run from Monroe, then, the win would be theirs.
Not surprisingly, Van Nuys prevented Monroe from staging a comeback, holding on to win 75-65, and advancing to the CIFLACS Finals for the first time under Coach Evan Porter.
The trio of Tyree Winborn, Kevin Hurlic III, and Anthony Daniels led the charge for the Wolves on both offensive and defensive sides of the court.
Winborn led the team in scoring with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.
After a triple-double performance from Kevin Hurlic III against the Pirates, Hurlic continued his well-rounded playing by scoring 18 points, accomplishing 12 rebounds, dishing out 6 assists, and gaining 5 steals.
Anthony Daniels also put up 16 points as well as 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Wolves are playing in their first finals game under Coach Porter against Sotomayor at North Hollywood High on March, 2nd at 7 p.m..
NEXT GAME: Wolves vs Sotomayor High on Friday, March. 24 at 7 p.m.