The El Dorado boys basketball team secured a crucial victory against Sonora, winning 69-60 in a Freeway League matchup at El Dorado High School on January 26, 2024. The Golden Hawks maintained a commanding lead for most of the game, but Sonora rallied in the fourth quarter, cutting a 21-point deficit to just five with 90 seconds remaining.
El Dorado entered the game with a record of 19-2 and ranked No. 15 in Orange County, while Sonora held a record of 16-7 and was ranked No. 18. Ryan Mounce, the El Dorado head coach, acknowledged the challenge posed by Sonora and its experienced coach, Mike Murphy, who has achieved over 700 career wins. “His teams are very well coached. Tyler (Holmquist) and Jaden (Barnes) are extremely good players. But we’ve built this team over the last year and a half. I’ve got five or six guys who can go for 20,” Mounce said.
Leading the charge for El Dorado was Elias Rodarte, who scored 21 points, and Noah Barker, who added 19 points. Rodarte showcased his shooting ability, hitting three 3-pointers, including two from long range that helped extend the Hawks’ lead to 45-33 in the third quarter. “On one of them, we got the offensive rebound and they kicked it out to me,” Rodarte explained. “I was kind of just feeling it. It felt good. I just feel confident shooting, especially since we work on it in practice.”
As the game entered the final quarter, El Dorado held a 21-point lead, but Sonora, led by standout senior Tyler Holmquist, mounted a furious comeback. Holmquist scored the Raiders’ first 11 points of the quarter, including three consecutive 3-pointers. His efforts, combined with a steal and assist to teammate Luca Pirona, closed the gap to nine points with just over a minute remaining.
Barnes contributed to Sonora’s surge, scoring on consecutive possessions to bring the score to 64-59 with just over a minute left. Despite the mounting pressure, the Golden Hawks remained composed, converting four of six free throws in the closing moments to seal the win.
Holmquist reflected on the match, stating, “They punched us in the mouth coming out of halftime. We didn’t do a good job of responding. I want to win every game. It’s my senior year, so I want to go down swinging and do whatever I can to help the team get back in it. Credit to them. They played a great game.”
The victory allows El Dorado to maintain its strong standing in the Freeway League with a record of 19-2 and 3-0 in league play. Sonora, now at 16-7 and 2-1 in league action, will have another chance to face El Dorado on January 27, 2024, in the second-to-last game of the regular season, promising another intense matchup in this competitive league.
