Four players scored in double figures for Rio Hondo, which posted its first win of the season Friday afternoon in a consolation semifinal against Foothill Conference rival Victor Valley in the 2012 Vaquero Classic at Glendale CC.
Something had to give as both teams entered winless on the season. But Rio Hondo (1-8) had several near-misses on its resume, while Victor Valley (0-7) has struggled to be competitive this season, losing its first four games of the season by more than 40 points.
Rio Hondo broke a 10-10 tie with an 8-0 run midway through the first half, sparked by 3-pointers by SF Anthony Owens and SF Anthony San Miguel. A short jumper by Ctr Preston Sachs made it 18-10.
Victor Valley rallied to cut the deficit to four points at 20-16, but then Rio Hondo went on a 23-4 run to take control of the game.
A 3-pointer by Ctr Amir Smith pushed the Roadrunner lead to double digits at 27-16. SG Robert Talamantes was fouled attempting a 3-point field goal, and made all three free throws to make it 32-18. A short jumper by San Miguel and a steal & lay-up by Owens made it 36-18, and Sachs made 2 free throws to push Rio Hondo's lead to 20 points at 38-18 with 4:06 left in the first half.
After a short jumper by Victor Valley PG Jermeryn Jenkins broke an 18-2 run, PG Jalen Dotson hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key for Rio Hondo to make it 41-20. Owens scored on a putback moments later to make it 43-20, and Rio Hondo held a 23-point lead at 45-22 at halftime.
And Rio Hondo managed to hold onto that lead despite some outstanding shooting by Victor Valley SG Riley Charlish, the lone sophomore on the Ram roster, in the second half. The 5-9 guard made 7 of 9 shots in the second half, including 6 threes, and scored 24 of the Rams' 35 second-half points.
Still, Rio Hondo was never threatened in the second half. Owens swished a 3-pointer in the opening seconds of the half to make it 48-22. The closest the Rams got was 18 points after Charlish's final 3-pointer with about five minutes left that made it 67-49, and Victor Valley also trailed by 18 at 70-52. Then Talamantes hit a 3-pointer and PF Juan Venegas scored on a fast break to make it 77-52.
Smith had 12 pts and 9 rebs for Rio Hondo, which will now face LA Valley in the consolation championship tomorrow. The Monarchs also picked up their first win of the season on Friday with a 70-63 win over local rival Moorpark.
Sachs came off the bench for 12 pts, 9 rebs and 3 asts for the Roadrunners, and Dotson came off the bench for 11 pts on 4-for-4 from the floor and 5 asts. Owens had 10 pts and 6 rebs. Overall, Rio Hondo had just 9 turnovers, and its starting five had just one turnover in the game.
For Victor Valley, Charlish led all scorers with his 24 pts, all of which came in the second half after he was 0-for-4 before halftime. Jenkins had 15 pts and 5 asts. PF Cailyn Patton had 4 pts and a game-high 10 rebs.
box score
2012 Vaquero Classic
Friday, December 14th @ Verdugo Gym, Glendale
Consolation Semifinal - 12 noon
Rio Hondo Roadrunners 80:
2-Anthony Owens, SF - 4/10 fg, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 10 pts
4-Amir Smith, C - 5/9 fg, 1/3 ft, 9 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 12 pts
5-Steve Paulino, SG - 0/8 fg, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 0 pts
11-Raymond Santos, PG - 2/7 fg, 3 ast, 6 pts
14-Daniel Silva, PF - 2/8 fg, 1/2 ft, 9 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 4 pf, 5 pts
3-Jalen Dotson, G - 4/4 fg, 3 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 1 pf, 11 pts
22-Robert Talamantes, G - 2/9 fg, 3/3 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 9 pts
44-Preston Sachs, C - 5/10 fg, 2/2 ft, 9 reb, 3 ast, 1 pf, 12 pts
32-Anthony San Miguel, F - 3/6 fg, 1 reb, 5 stl, 1 pf, 7 pts
33-Juan Venegas, F - 3/6 fg, 2/2 ft, 5 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl, 8 pts
team rebounds: 3
Totals: 30/77 fg (.390), 9/12 ft (.750), 46 reb, 20 ast, 0 blk, 16 stl, 9 pf, 80 pts
3-pt fg (11): Dotson 3, Owens 2, Santos 2, Talamantes 2, Smith, San Miguel
Turnovers (9): Dotson 3, Sachs 3, Paulino, San Miguel, Venegas
Victor Valley Rams 57:
2-Tyler Baskett, SF - 2/6 fg, 5 reb, 4 pts
3-Riley Charlish, SG - 7/13 fg, 4/4 ft, 2 ast, 2 pf, 24 pts
10-Jermeryn Jenkins, PG - 7/12 fg, 3 reb, 5 ast, 2 blk, 1 stl, 15 pts
11-Cailyn Patton, PF - 2/5 fg, 10 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk, 2 pf, 4 pts
23-Michael Lugo, C - 2/5 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 4 pf, 4 pts
45-Reggie Cole, F - 2/5 fg, 4 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 1 pf, 4 pts
24-Dennis Hemphill, G - 1/2 fg, 0/2 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 pts
21-Alvin Worthey, G - 0 pts
4-Austin Cacal, F - 1 pf, 0 pts
44-Ryann Fox, F - 0 pts
team rebounds: 3
Totals: 23/48 fg (.479), 4/6 ft (.667), 31 reb, 18 ast, 3 blk, 4 stl, 10 pf, 57 pts
3-pt fg (7): Charlish 6, Jenkins
Turnovers (23): Hemphill 6, Charlish 4, Jenkins 3, Patton 3, Lugo 3, Cole 3, Baskett
Halftime Score: Rio Hondo 45, Victor Valley 22
Updated Records: Rio Hondo 1-8, Victor Valley 0-7
Rio Hondo broke a 10-10 tie with an 8-0 run, and took control with a 23-4 run to make it 43-20.
