PF Kevin Menner had 17 pts, SG Franklin Session had a double-double and Saddleback (5-5) committed just 3 turnovers in a 63-58 win over Imperial Valley (1-8) in a first round game at the RCC Holiday Tournament.
Menner led the way for the Gauchos with 17 pts, 9 rebs and 3 asts. Session had 14 pts, 13 rebs and 3 asts. And PG Kyle Wallace chipped in with 10 pts.
But the amazing story was the mere 3 turnovers. Saddleback had one team turnover (a shot-clock violation I believe) early in the game, but that was their only one in the entire first half. Wallace and Menner each had one turnover in the second half, both on steals. IVC, meanwhile, had 17 turnovers for the game - about average for a JC team these days.
This one was close all the way, with neither team leading by more than 4 points until the final seconds and the score tied at 24 at the break. Saddleback opened a 24-20 lead late in the first half before a pair of baskets by IVC SG Evander Little tied it at intermission. Imperial Valley led by as many as 3 points at 45-42 with just under 8 minutes left before a pair of baskets by Menner put Saddleback back in front.
A 3-pointer by Wallace pushed Saddleback's lead to 4 at 57-53, but Imperial Valley stayed close, trailing by just a point at 59-58 after a lay-up by Little with 22.5 seconds left. A free throw by Ctr Billy Azizi made it 60-58 with 21.2 seconds left.
But then IVC SF Tony Brown missed a 3-pointer that would have given the Arabs the lead. Saddleback SG Aaron Woods got the rebound, was fouled and made one out of two free throws to make it 61-58 with 7.4 seconds left.
IVC got the ball into the frontcourt and called timeout to set up a final play. However, on the inbounds pass, PF David Jefferson's toss went untouched, turning the ball over to Saddleback. Woods then made a pair of free throws for the Gauchos to seal the win.
Little led IVC with 24 pts. Brown added 12 pts and 5 asts, while Ctr Milton Watts had 12 pts and 6 rebs.
box score
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 5 pm
at Wheelock Gym, Riverside
RCC Holiday Tournament - 1st Round
Saddleback Gauchos 63:
4-Kevin Menner, PF - 6/18 fg, 5/8 ft, 9 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 1 pf, 17 pts
12-Kyle Wallace, PG - 2/3 fg, 4/5 ft, 1 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 10 pts
23-Franklin Session, SG - 5/14 fg, 3/4 ft, 13 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 14 pts
24-T.J. Lipold, SF - 2/3 fg, 1/1 ft, 2 reb, 5 pts
33-Sarunas Jackson, C - 4/8 fg, 3 pf, 8 pts
10-Terrell Mack, G - 2 ast, 2 pf, 0 pts
21-Aaron Woods, G - 1/5 fg, 3/4 ft, 1 reb, 3 pf, 5 pts
41-Billy Azizi, C - 0/2 fg, 4/7 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 1 pf, 4 pts
31-Marquis Green, F - 0/4 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 0 pts
32-Elijah York, F - 1 stl, 0 pts
team rebounds: 5
Totals: 20/57 fg (.351), 20/29 ft (.690), 34 reb, 12 ast, 0 blk, 5 stl, 12 pf, 63 pts
3-pt fg (3): Wallace 2, Session
Turnovers (3): Menner, Wallace, team
Imperial Valley Arabs 58:
0-Matt Rojas, PG - 1/4 fg, 2 reb, 3 ast, 4 pf, 3 pts
1-Evander Little, SG - 10/16 fg, 2 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 24 pts
11-David Jefferson, PF - 1/4 fg, 2/2 ft, 6 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk, 4 pf, 5 pts
24-Tony Brown, SF - 3/10 fg, 4/5 ft, 2 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 3 pf, 12 pts
45-Milton Watts, C - 4/7 fg, 4/5 ft, 6 reb, 2 blk, 4 pf, 12 pts
4-Anthony Rojas, F - 1/2 fg, 4 reb, 2 pf, 2 pts
20-Ryan Pimble, G - 4 reb, 0 pts
42-Josh Martinez, C - 2 reb, 1 pts, 0 pts
5-Lee Walker, G - 1 pf, 0 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 20/43 fg (.465), 12/14 ft (.857), 30 reb, 11 ast, 4 blk, 2 stl, 21 pf, 58 pts
3-pt fg (6): Little 2, Brown 2, M.Rojas, Jefferson
Turnovers (17): Jefferson 5, M.Rojas 3, Little 3, A.Rojas 3, Pimble 2, Watts
Halftime Score: Tied at 24
Updated Records: Saddleback 5-5, Imperial Valley 1-8
