The Ayala Bulldogs delivered a strong all-around performance Friday night, pulling away early and never looking back in a 67–48 Palomares League boys varsity basketball victory over the Walnut Mustangs at Ayala High School.

The win evened the two-game league series after Walnut claimed the first meeting, 66–58, and moved both teams into a tie for first place in the Palomares League standings at 5–2.

Ayala set the tone early, using defensive pressure and efficient scoring to build a 20–11 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Senior Brenden White led the early surge with eight points in the opening frame, while Isaiah Dolloso added five, including a three-pointer that helped stretch the Bulldogs’ lead.

The Bulldogs continued to control the tempo in the second quarter, extending their advantage to 29–13 with 4:53 remaining before halftime. Senior Zach Canellopoulos provided one of the key sequences of the game when he knocked down a three-point attempt and drew a foul, converting the free throw to complete a four-point play and push the lead to 36–13 with 2:29 left in the quarter.

Walnut showed resilience late in the half as sophomore Dom Butler connected on a three-pointer at the buzzer, but Ayala still carried a commanding 38–18 lead into halftime.

White led all scorers with 11 points in the first half for the Bulldogs. Walnut was paced by Chris Hernandez, who scored eight points before the break, including two baskets from beyond the arc.

Ayala put the game out of reach in the third quarter behind a dominant scoring stretch from White, who poured in 13 points in the period on four field goals, one three-pointer, and a perfect 2-for-2 performance from the free-throw line. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 58–33 by the end of the third quarter, firmly in control heading into the final eight minutes.

White added four more points in the fourth quarter to finish with a game-high 30 points.

Ayala received balanced scoring throughout the lineup, with Joshua Townsell contributing 10 points, Milo Tun adding nine, and Canellopoulos finishing with eight. Dolloso and Paul Christian each chipped in five points.

Walnut was led by Zayn Karim with 12 points, followed by Hernandez with 10 and Kiko Guevara with nine. Jeremiah Vasquez scored eight points, while Butler added three.

The Mustangs will return home Wednesday to face the Bonita Bearcats, looking to rebound after a 68–51 loss in the teams’ first meeting. Bonita enters the matchup with a 4–3 Palomares League record.

Ayala will also be on the road Wednesday, traveling to face the Diamond Bar Brahmas. The Bulldogs narrowly defeated Diamond Bar 67–63 in their first meeting of the season. The Brahmas will be aiming to keep their momentum going after a strong 71–58 victory over the Glendora Tartans as the Palomares League race tightens.

Game Photos

Photos taken by Anthony Sarinana