Prep Roundup: VanderVeen sparks Arroyo Grande in boys basketball upset of Righetti

The last time the Arroyo Grande High boys basketball team played Righetti, the Eagles were humbled in a 25-point loss.

On Wednesday night, it was a completely different story.

Brent VanderVeen finished with 33 points and 20 rebounds, Matt Willkomm contributed 23 points with three 3-pointers and six assists and the Eagles outscored a talented Righetti team 24-7 in the fourth quarter for a 72-62 road win.

Both teams are tied for first place in the PAC 7 with 6-1 records.

“Our team hasn’t had an awfully long time together,” Arroyo Grande coach Ryan Glanville said. “Right now, we’re improving with every game. They’re coming together as a group. They’re starting to trust each other and believe in each other.”

The Eagles (13-8, 6-1 PAC 7) had a tough early season after a few of the players were part of the school’s CIF-Southern Section Western Division championship football team that ended its season Dec. 9. And since that league-opening 70-45 home loss to Righetti on Jan. 4, Arroyo Grande has been rolling with six straight wins.

Wednesday’s triumph is significant considering Righetti is the final team in the latest Los Angeles Times Top 25 poll in the Southland. The Warriors (16-3, 6-1 PAC 7) were led by Hunter Walker (20 points) and Ryan McGready (19 points), with Patrick Sims chipping in with 12 points on four 3-pointers.

Righetti’s previous loss came Dec. 30, when the Warriors fell 62-50 to La Costa Canyon of Carlsbad — a team with a 20-2 overall record.

San Luis Obispo 75, Atascadero 46

The Tigers had four players score in double figures as they downed the Greyhounds.

Matt Moore led the Tigers (10-9, 3-4 PAC 7) with 16 points, both Carlson Schwoerer and Chandler Torres scored 13 and Matthew Delmartini had 10.

Robbie Berwick led Atascadero (13-7, 4-3) with 10 points.

Paso Robles 55, Pioneer Valley 42

The Bearcats (7-13, 2-5 PAC 7) outscored the Panthers 36-21 in the second half.

Josh Wilson-Murry scored a game-high 21 points for Paso Robles, and Matt Van Dyk added 12.

Morro Bay 62, Nipomo 54

Edward Griley led the Pirates (13-8, 6-1 Los Padres) with 28 points in their victory over the Titans.

Marcus Zorovich added seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds for Morro Bay.

Ryan McNeil led Nipomo (6-16, 3-5 LPL) with 28 points.

Templeton 64, Lompoc 39

The Eagles (8-13, 5-3 LPL) allowed only 14 points in the first half in their victory over the Braves.

Templeton’s Evan Peterson led all scorers with 17 points, and Eric Fragione added 12.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Arroyo Grande 49, Righetti 34

Three Eagles players scored in double figures as Arroyo Grande (15-5, 7-0 PAC 7) preserved its undefeated PAC 7 record.

Brianna Flood led the Eagles with 13 points, while Heather Madrigal and Lindsey Wolf each added 12.

Mariah Cook led with a game-high 17 points for the Warriors (11-9, 4-3).

Paso Robles 51, Pioneer Valley 44

Amani White had 27 points for Paso Robles to fuel a win over the Panthers.

Molly Donovan scored 12 points for the Bearcats (9-11, 2-5 PAC 7).

Atascadero 45, San Luis Obispo 16

Mary Kate Evans scored a team-high 16 points, and the Greyhounds defeated the Tigers.

Emily Boege scored 14 for the Greyhounds (13-6, 7-1 PAC 7), with three 3-pointers.

Erica Chandler led San Luis Obispo (9-10, 2-5) with six points.

Morro Bay 51, Nipomo 17

The Pirates (14-3, 7-0 LPL) shut out the Titans (2-8, 2-6) in the first quarter to open up a 15-point lead and never looked back.

Hanna Gilbert led Morro Bay with 15 points and nine rebounds.

Templeton 63, Lompoc 55

The Eagles overcame a 14-point deficit with a 28-8 fourth-quarter run to defeat the Braves.

Mari Stewart and Lauren Studemann led Templeton with 24 and 18 points, respectively.

GIRLS SOCCER

Righetti 2, Arroyo Grande 1

Paige Johnson’s first-half goal wasn’t enough to push the Eagles past Righetti.

Arroyo Grande (13-7, 5-2 PAC 7) had 11 shots on goal.

Atascadero 5, San Luis Obispo 1

Both Rhiannon Dudley and Christine Curtis had two goals apiece as the Greyhounds defeated the Tigers.

Hannah McMillan also scored, while Emily Johnson had seven saves for Atascadero (13-6-1, 3-4-0 PAC 7).

BOYS SOCCER

Paso Robles 1, Pioneer Valley 1, tie

Angel Guevara tied the score at 1 with a goal that was assisted by Marco Gut in the 25th minute, and the Bearcats tied the Panthers. Jesus Gil had nine saves for Paso Robles (10-2-7, 4-1-2 PAC 7).

Arroyo Grande 2, Righetti 1, 2 OT

Angel Rodriguez scored the game-winning goal in the first minute of the second overtime in the Eagles’ victory over the Warriors.

Oscar Munoz scored first for Arroyo Grande (9-9-3, 3-3-1 PAC 7) early in the first half, before Righetti tied it one minute before halftime on a penalty kick.

Goalie Alex Montero had five saves for the Eagles.