Mustangs forced to forfeit season-opening win

FAIRFIELD — First-year Rodriguez High boys basketball coach Nate Rankin is still looking for his first official win of the season after the Mustangs were forced to forfeit Saturday’s win over Lower Lake for using a transfer player not yet eligible to see action.

Rankin admitted misunderstanding the California Interscholastic Federation’s “Sit Out Period” rule for transfers, which allows them to practice but not play until Dec. 31 for winter sports.

“I thought it started Dec. 1 and ends Dec. 31,” Rankin said. “We thought it was OK (for him) to play, but it’s unfortunate because the kids worked so hard. Anytime you take a ‘W’ off the win column it’s tough. I take full responsibility. We put it out there (by informing the Sac-Joaquin Section) right away. It’s unfortunate.”

The Mustangs rolled to a 77-69 win over Brookside Christian of Stockton in a SJS Foundation Game on Monday. DeShaun Hall led the Mustangs with 21 points, while Kyle Williams had 13 and Derrick Harris and Tim Moore 12 each.

Rodriguez has its first home game of the season when it hosts Ygnacio Valley on Thursday.

Inderkum 73, Vanden 63: At Sacramento, Brandon Williams poured in 20 points, Jordan Collier 19 and Leon Williams 14, but Vanden only got 10 points from everyone else in dropping a nonleague game to the Tigers.

“Missed layups and rebounding really hurt, ” Vanden coach Micheal Holloway said. “We gave up a lot of second-chance points to them and we didn’t capitalize on second-chance points, we missed the layups.”

In JV action, the Vikings fell 66-64 despite a monster night from D’Marre Walker with 29 points.

Rashard Fisher added 12 for the Vikings (0-1).

The JV squad plays again Thursday in the Sheldon Tournament against Lodi at 3:30 p.m., while the varsity if off until hosting Dixon on Tuesday.

Wood 60, Cordova 44: At Vacaville, the Wildcats (2-0) didn’t allow a free throw attempt by the Lancers and 13 points from Cameron Moore and 12 from Davis Wade.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a game where the other team didn’t have a free throw,” said Wood coach Mark Wudel, who’s coached at the varsity level for more than two decades. “All they did was shot 3′s. They didn’t drive much except to kick it out.”

The Wildcats got it done with defense, allowing just four points in the fourth quarter to pull away.

“We played really good (defense) off and on,” Wudel said, “but in the fourth quarter we really concentrated on that and that broke it open big time.”

Wood entertains Christian Brothers on Saturday.