By Marcus D. Smith–
Energetic to start the game is how you could describe the San Juan Spartans when they began their game against Vacaville Christian on January 24. It was a track meet out there as the boys played at a fast tempo all throughout the first quarter.
Through the first eight minutes, the Spartans led by four, 19-15.
As the second quarter began, Vacaville Christian struck quick with a 9-3 in the opening two minutes of the quarter. San Juan would go on a cold streak, only scoring seven points in the second.
Vacaville Christian would go on to score 20 points in the second quarter and took control of the game going into the break, 35-36.
In the third quarter, coming back from the break the Spartans brought back the same energy they had in the first. They cut the lead to two points, 45-43, going into the fourth quarter.
The Falcons answered in the fourth quarter with back-to-back buckets and took momentum of the game. With 2:49 remaining in the game, they were up by as many as 15 points, 64-49, before the Spartans tried to make one last push.
It was a 10-point deficit with two minutes left after the junior guard, Matt Colter, was fouled going to the basket on a layup. Colter made the layup, and the free throw awarded after, 64-54.
Sophomore guard, Nanik Tagore, cut the score to a single-digit game after he connected for a deep three pointer with a minute and 20 seconds. It was 64-57.
The next possession was big as Colter went to the line with 55.8 remaining, after getting fouled. He missed both free throws.
After the Spartans got a stop on defense, Tagore stepped up and stepped back for a mid-range jump shot that cut the lead to five, 64-59, with 30.8 seconds left in the game.
Vacaville Christian would go down on the opposite and pass the pass to attempt to run the clock out. A flagrant foul was called on Colter when he made contact with a Falcons player making a jump pass made with 17.7 seconds left. This gave them two free throws and the ball back, practically sealing the deal.
Vacaville Christian would make both free throws, going up by seven. San Juan would lose by five, 66-61, after a last-second field goal was made with 1.5 seconds in the game.
At the midway point of league the Spartans are 2-3 and look forward to the second half as they face Highlands in their second meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
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Sports Reporter Marcus D. Smith covers high school sports in Citrus Heights. Smith is a Sacramento-area native and earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2017.