Five players scored in double figures as American River built an early 12-point lead and withstood repeated challenges the rest of the way in a 75-67 win over #15 Mendocino in the 3rd Place game of the 2012 Kris Kringle Classic Saturday in Santa Rosa.
American River (6-4) jumped out to a 15-3 lead in the game's first 7 minutes, and manged to hold onto the lead from wire to wire despite playing with just 7 players, one of whom was injured during the game, and having to do without standout Ctr Chad Haysbert, who despite missing this game was named to the all-tournament team.
And Mendocino (6-4) closed the gap as few as four points in the first half and two points midway through the second half. It was still a 6-point game in the final minute when Eagle SF Kevin Charles missed a 3-pointer that would have made it 73-70. ARC then sealed the win with two free throws with 27.5 seconds left from SG Mardell Thompson.
After falling behind, Mendocino cut the deficit to four points at 18-14 after a putback basket by PF Jordan Douglas midway through the first half. American River pushed the lead back to double digits at 24-14 after a pair of fast-break baskets by Thompson and Ctr Kelly Jackson, but Mendocino drew within four points again after three-pointers by SF Nate Henry and Charles made it 24-20.
Mendocino again trailed by four points at 32-28 late in the first half, but PF Brandon Hoston made a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the first half to push the Beavers' lead back to nine at 37-28 at the break.
When the second half began, American River quickly pushed its lead back to double digits with two free throws by Jackson that made it 41-31 with 17:08 left. SF Jarvis Watkins scored after a steal and pass from PG Chris Carvin to push the lead back to a dozen at 45-33.
But then things started to get tense for American River. Mendocino closed the gap to three points at 48-44, and then Jackson was injured going for a rebound with 11:37 left and had to leave the game. SF Khalil Ray substituted for him and made two free throws, but Henry hit a 3-pointer to bring Mendocino within two points at 52-50 with 9:30 left.
American River maintained a slim lead as the clock ticked down, but Hoston picked up his fourth foul with 8:23 left. Jackson was still unable to re-enter the game, so Hoston stayed on the floor. ARC pushed its lead back to ten points at 63-53 after Hoston hit a 3-pointer with about 5:30 left.
Jackson came back into the game for Hoston with 5:01 left, but lasted just a few seconds before aggravating the right wrist injury and having to leave the game for good.
PG Caleb King subbed for him to shoot two free throws and made one of two to make it 66-55. American River pushed its lead back to 12 with just over two minutes left when Hoston scored off a pass from King to make it 70-58.
Mendocino put together one last rally, getting the lead down to 10 after a lay-up by Henry with 1:15 left. Then two seconds later Carvin was called for a flagrant (elbow) foul, giving Mendocino SG Cesar Mendoza two free throws, which he made, with the Eagles keeping the ball. On the next play Hoston fouled out, sending Charles to the line where he made one of two free throws to make it 70-63 with 1:09 left.
Mendocino still trailed by 8 points until PG Jacobie Williams scored on a driving lay-up with 41.6 seconds left to make it 73-67. The Eagles got the ball back moments later, and Charles tried a 3-pointer that would have made it a one-score game. But his shot missed, and ARC got the rebound. The Beavers ran the clock down to 27.5 seconds left, when Thompson made two free throws to make it 75-67. After Charles missed another 3-pointer, ARC finally had the win secured.
Hoston led ARC with 16 pts, and he also grabbed a game-high 13 rebs. Thompson had 15 pts and 7 rebs, and Watkins had 12 pts and 8 rebs. Jackson just missed a double-double with 10 pts and 9 rebs before leaving with the injury, and Carvin came off the bench for 10 pts and 7 asts.
For Mendocino, Charles led all scorers with 21 pts, including 3 three-pointers. Henry came off the bench for 15 pts. Williams had 9 pts and a game-high 8 asts, and Ctr Alfred Thomas had 8 pts and a team-high 10 rebs.
box score
37th Annual Kris Kringle Classic
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ Haehl Pavilion, Santa Rosa
Third Place Game - 6 pm
American River Beavers 75:
6-Caleb King, PG – 3/4 fg, 1/2 ft, 7 reb, 3 ast, 2 pf, 7 pts
20-Brandon Hoston, PF – 6/12 fg, 1/2 ft, 13 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk, 5 pf, 16 pts
22-Mardell Thompson, SG – 5/15 fg, 4/4 ft, 7 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 15 pts
23-Jarvis Watkins, SF – 3/12 fg, 6/9 ft, 8 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 4 pf, 12 pts
44-Kelly Jackson, C – 3/5 fg, 4/6 ft, 9 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk, 2 pf, 10 pts
1-Chris Carvin, G – 3/12 fg, 3/5 ft, 3 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl, 4 pf, 10 pts
3-Khalil Ray, F – 1/1 fg, 3/6 ft, 2 reb, 1 stl, 2 pf, 5 pts
team rebounds: 6
Totals: 24/61 fg (.393), 22/34 ft (.647), 55 reb, 19 ast, 3 blk, 5 stl, 21 pf, 75 pts
3-pt fg (5): Hoston 3, Thompson, Carvin
Technical Foul: Jackson
Flagrant (elbow) Foul: Carvin
Fouled Out: Hoston 1:09 left
Turnovers (13): Hoston 3, Watkins 3, King 2, Carvin 2, Thompson, Jackson, Ray
Mendocino Eagles 67:
3-Cesar Mendoza, SG – 1/2 fg, 7/8 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 pf, 9 pts
5-Jacobie Williams, PG – 3/5 fg, 2/2 ft, 2 reb, 8 ast, 4 stl, 3 pf, 9 pts
21-Kevin Charles, SF – 5/16 fg, 8/11 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 3 stl, 3 pf, 21 pts
34-Mike Merrill, C – 0/2 fg, 2/2 ft, 4 reb, 1 blk, 2 pf, 2 pts
44-Jesse Williams, PF – 0/10 fg, 2 reb, 2 ast, 5 pf, 0 pts
33-Nate Henry, F – 4/11 fg, 4/4 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 4 pf, 15 pts
32-Alfred Thomas, C – 4/7 fg, 10 reb, 1 ast, 2 pf, 8 pts
11-Jordan Douglas, F – 1/6 fg, 1/2 ft, 3 reb, 3 pf, 3 pts
team rebounds: 1
Totals: 18/59 fg (.305), 24/29 ft (.828), 36 reb, 15 ast, 4 blk, 9 stl, 24 pf, 67 pts
3-pt fg (7): Charles 3, Henry 3, Jacobie Williams
Fouled Out: Jesse Williams 4:03 left
Turnovers (10): Jacobie Williams 6, Charles 4
Halftime Score: American River 37, Mendocino 28
Updated Records: American River 6-4, Mendocino (t-#15 North) 6-4
American River started with a 15-3 run and led wire to wire.
Mendocino got within 2 at 52-50 with 9:30 left, but then ARC pulled away to lead 70-58.
Mendocino got within 6 at 73-67 and Charles missed a 3-pointer with about 30 seconds left.
Thompson got the rebound, was fouled and made 2 FTs with 27.5 secs left to clinch it for ARC.
