Four players scored in double figures as #8 American River (10-6) topped Big 8 rival and host #13 Santa Rosa (7-7) in the Third Place Game of the Kris Kringle Classic tournament Saturday evening at Haehl Pavilion.
SF Darren Lee had 24 pts, including13 of 14 free throws, to lead the Beavers. SG A.J. Gold had a superb all-around game with 15 pts, 9 rebs and 5 asts, and was named to the All-Tournament team. Ctr Michael Selling had a strong effort with 18 pts and 8 rebs, and PF Nelson Ekeh had 14 pts and 7 rebs.
Santa Rosa led by 5 points at 42-37 after a 25-foot 3-pointer by SF Darius Foster at the buzzer to end the first half. But American River began the second half on an 11-5 spurt to take a 48-47 lead on a three by Selling. Santa Rosa went back in front on a 3-pointer, but then Lee knocked down a 3-pointer to put ARC back in front and the Beavers led the rest of the way. The lead reached 9 with just under 5 minutes left.
Santa Rosa made a late rally to cut the margin to 3 points at 76-73 with 2:07 left after a pair of baskets by Forster, and trailed by 3 again at 79-76 with 1:25 left after a three by SF Michael Johnson. But six free throws by Lee, all in the last 1:06, sealed the win for American River.
SG Donald Weddington led Santa Rosa with 16 pts, including 5 threes, and 6 rebs. PF Justin Baker had 15 pts while Foster had 14 pts and 5 asts. Johnson played just a few minutes towards the end of the game but gave his team a lift with 8 pts, 2 rebs and a steal.
Box score
Kris Kringle Classic Tournament
@ Haehl Pavilion, Santa Rosa Junior College
Saturday, December 15, 2007 – 6 pm – Third Place Game
American River Beavers 85:
3-Darren Lee, SF – 3/8 fg, 13/14 ft, 2 reb, 4 ast, 1 pf, 21 pts
10-A.J. Gold, SG – 6/10 fg, 2/2 ft, 9 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 15 pts
11-Jared Stigall, PG – 1/5 fg, 1/2 ft, 7 reb, 5 ast, 1 pf, 4 pts
32-Michael Selling, C – 6/11 fg, 5/6 ft, 8 reb, 3 ast, 2 pf, 18 pts
44-Nelson Ekeh, PF – 6/9 fg, 2/5 ft, 7 reb, 3 pf, 14 pts
33-Eugene Crockett, C – 3/9 fg, 0/2 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 4 pf, 6 pts
34-Raenell Lafleur, F – 1/3 fg, 1/2 ft, 5 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 3 pts
22-Marcus Thompson, G – 2/3 fg, 1 pf, 4 pts
13-Sean Kelleher, F – 0 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 28/58 fg (.483), 24/33 ft (.727), 43 reb, 21 ast, 1 blk, 2 stl, 15 pf, 85 pts
3-pt fg (5): Lee 2, Gold, Stigall, Selling
Turnovers (11): Ekeh 4, Selling 3, Lee 2, Gold, Crockett
Santa Rosa Bear Cubs 76:
21-Drew Gipson, PG – 3/5 fg, 2/2 ft, 2 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 8 pts
23-Donald Weddington, SG – 5/14 fg, 1/2 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 4 pf, 16 pts
25-Darius Foster, SF – 5/13 fg, 2/2 ft, 3 reb, 5 ast, 1 pf, 14 pts
44-Justin Baker, PF – 5/11 fg, 3/5 ft, 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 5 pf, 15 pts
45-Kelly Berry, C – 1/5 fg, 1 reb, 2 ast, 4 pf, 2 pts
33-Drew Menez, F – 3/9 fg, 1/2 ft, 6 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 7 pts
24-Robert Ford, G – 2/4 fg, 1 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 3 pf, 6 pts
34-Michael Johnson, G – 3/4 fg, 1/1 ft, 2 reb, 1 stl, 2 pf, 8 pts
team rebounds: 3
Totals: 27/65 fg (.415), 10/14 ft (.714), 29 reb, 22 ast, 0 blk, 6 stl, 23 pf, 76 pts
3-pt fg (12): Weddington 5, Foster 2, Baker 2, Ford 2, Johnson
Fouled Out: Baker 2:43 left
Turnovers (9): Gipson 3, Weddington 3, Berry 2, Menez
Halftime Score: Santa Rosa 42, American River 37
Updated Records: American River (t-#8 North, t-#16 Calif) 10-6, Santa Rosa (#13 North) 7-7
Note: Gold (ARC) was named to the All-Tournament team
