Bonita Starts Basketball Season with a Lot of Get Up and Ko

Matt Adamo rises up for a shot while Garrett Horine blocks out a defender.

Looking every bit as strong as the team that finished 26-4 last season after defeating San Dimas 53-33 in last night’s Citrus Bowl at the University of La Verne, the Bonita varsity basketball team may soon be heading up the San Gabriel Valley Tribune’s weekly poll that placed the Bearcats No. 10 to start the season.

Brandon Ko, debuting in the point guard position, blistered the nets for 17 points while Garrett Horine cleaned up inside with 15 points to lead the strong Bonita attack.

Bonita trailed just once, 2-0, before reeling off 12 straight points to lead 12-2. Ko dumped in a three-pointer at the buzzer to put Bonita up 19-9 at the end of the first period.

The offense struggled in the second period, partly due to the absence of Ryan Ramirez, who took a nasty tumble, forcing the 6-foot-4 center to the sidelines. Still, Bonita led 28-16 at the intermission.

To start the third quarter, it was all Bonita, or, to be more precise, all Ko, who stole the ball from San Dimas three straight times leading to two easy buckets for him and another layup for Horine who was rewarded for running the floor.

“That hustle by Ko to start the second half really triggered our defensive intensity,” said Bonita head coach Greg Eckler.

After an inside basket by Ramirez, Bonita pushed the lead to 36-16, and was never really challenged as Bonita galloped home with an easy win to retain the bowl full silver chalice filled with oranges. On the distaff side, the Bonita girls also rang up all oranges, defeating the Lady Saints 53-28.

Bonita started No. 10, but poll watchers know that ranking will soon change.

Bonita takes to the road tomorrow with a scheduled 6:30 p.m. stop at Pomona.