Ctr Justin Smith made 2 free throws with 3 seconds left to break an 81-81 tie and lift host Canyons (7-10) to an upset win over #13 Pasadena (10-7) in a semifinal of the 19th annual Cougar Holiday Classic Sunday night.
Smith's free throws capped a wild final 1:37 that saw Pasadena rally from an 8-point deficit to tie the game in the final minute, after which they fell behind again only to tie the game again with 12 seconds remaining. But after a timeout, Canyons got the ball to SF C.J. Atkins, who brought it to the frontcourt and gave it to Smith at the elbow. As Smith drove towards the basket, Pasadena PG Corey Caston tried for the steal but was whistled for the foul, sending Smith to the line for what would be the game-winning free throws.
Canyons began the game well, thanks largely to Smith, who scored 10 of the Cougars' first 14 points. Canyons' lead reached as much as 12 points after a 3-pointer by SG Jason Holzwarth that made it 21-9 midway through the first half.
Pasadena rallied, sparked by a pair of threes by SG ChaRunn Jones, and cut the Cougar lead to just 3 points at 22-19. Canyons continued to lead the rest of the first half, but the margin at the break was just 3 points at 37-34.
Pasadena went on a 12-0 run early in the second half to take a 46-39 lead. After Holzwarth scored for Canyons to make it 39-34, Pasadena went on the run, taking a 40-39 lead on a dunk by PF Elliott Berry. Then came a 3-pointer by Jones and a FG+FT 3-point play by SF Antoine Bryan to make it 46-39. The Lancer lead eventually reached 49-41 after a 3-point play by Ctr Tyree McCary.
But then McCary sat down with his 4th foul, and Canyons rallied in his absence. A pair of Smith field goals put the Cougars ahead, 53-52. A three by Caston put Pasadena back in front, 55-53, but then Canyons got a steal & basket by PF Brannon Bradley to tie the game. Bradley was also fouled on the play; he missed the resulting free throw but PF Brooks Flanagan grabbed the rebound and scored on the putback to give Canyons a 57-55 lead.
Canyons held that lead until the final seconds, stretching it to as many as 8 points at 79-71 after a basket by Bradley with 1:37. Even worse for Pasadena, McCary fouled out on that play, though Bradley missed the resulting free throw.
However, Pasadena rallied to wipe out that 8-point deficit. A lay-up by Caston with 1:27 left made it 79-73. Then after Bradley missed a pair of free throws for Canyons, Bryan completed an unlikely 4-point play, banking home a 3-pointer while drawing a foul. His good free throw completed the 4-point play and made it 79-77 with 1:07 left. Then COC turned the ball over with 1:03 left. Berry scored on a putback of his own miss to make it 79-79 with just under a minute to play.
Canyons took an 81-79 lead on a basket by Atkins with 43 seconds left. But Pasadena SF Korbin McCarthy was fouled after grabbing a rebound wtih 14 seconds left. He missed both resulting free throws, but Bryan grabbed the rebound and scored with 12 seconds left to again tie the score at 81.
Then came Smith's winning free throws. Even after that, Pasadena had one more chance to tie or take the lead, and called timeout with 3 seconds left. But when play resumed, Caston's pass to midcourt was intercepted by Atkins, clinching the win for Canyons.
For Canyons, Smith led the way with 24 pts, 9 rebs and 3 asts. PG Terrez Scott had a huge game with 15 pts, 8 asts, 5 rebs and 5 steals, though he also had 8 turnovers. Holzwarth added 14 pts. And Bradley had a very strong effort off the bench with 10 pts and 7 rebs. The COC bench was key in the win, outscoring the Pasadena reserves, 23-2.
For Pasadena, Berry had a double-double with 22 pts and 15 rebs. Caston just missed a double-double with 21 pts and 9 asts. Bryan added 13 pts, Jones had 12 (all on threes) and McCary managed 11 despite battling foul trouble.
The win vaults Canyons into the championship game Monday evening against #3-ranked Chaffey at 6 pm. Pasadena will play in the 3rd place game vs. West LA at 4 pm.
box score
Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 8 pm
19th Annual Cougar Holiday Classic - Santa Clarita
Semifinal
Pasadena Lancers 81:
12-Corey Caston, PG - 7/17 fg, 5/6 ft, 6 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl, 4 pf, 21 pts
13-Elliott Berry, PF - 7/21 fg, 8/12 ft, 15 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 1 pf, 22 pts
14-ChaRunn Jones, SG - 4/11 fg, 3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 12 pts
30-Antoine Bryan, SF - 5/8 fg, 2/4 ft, 5 reb, 1 stl, 4 pf, 13 pts
52-Tyree McCary, C - 5/7 fg, 1/1 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk, 2 stl, 5 pf, 11 pts
24-Joel Nolen, F - 1/4 fg, 2 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 5 pf, 2 pts
21-Korbin McCarthy, F - 0/3 fg, 0/2 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 0 pts
33-Devin Rhodes, C - 1 reb, 1 stl, 0 pts
team rebounds: 6
Totals: 29/71 fg (.408), 16/25 ft (.640), 45 reb, 18 ast, 3 blk, 10 stl, 22 pf, 81 pts
3-pt fg (7): Jones 4, Caston 2, Bryan
Fouled Out: Nolen 9:07 left, McCary 1:37 left
Turnovers (21); Caston 6, Berry 5, McCary 4, Jones 2, Bryan 2, Nolen, Rhodes
Canyons Cougars 83:
3-Terrez Scott, PG - 6/10 fg, 2/4 ft, 5 reb, 8 ast, 5 stl, 3 pf, 15 pts
12-Jason Holzwarth, SG - 6/12 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk, 2 stl, 2 pf, 14 pts
21-Justin Smith, C - 10/16 fg, 4/8 ft, 9 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 4 pf, 24 pts
24-Travis Hayden, SF - 1/3 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 2 pts
42-Brooks Flanagan, PF - 2/5 fg, 1/4 ft, 6 reb, 1 stl, 5 pts
30-Jonathan Phillips, F - 1/2 fg, 6 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 1 pf, 2 pts
34-C.J. Atkins, G - 2/7 fg, 2/3 ft, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 2 pf, 6 pts
22-Brannon Bradley, F - 5/8 fg, 0/4 ft, 7 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 3 pf, 10 pts
33-Behrang Behjoo, F - 1/3 fg, 3/4 ft, 1 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 5 pts
20-Eric Davis, G - 1 ast, 1 pf, 0 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 34/66 fg (.515), 12/27 ft (.444), 42 reb, 19 ast, 4 blk, 14 stl, 18 pf, 83 pts
3-pt fg (3): Holzwarth 2, Scott
Turnovers (22): Scott 8, Holzwarth 3, Bradley 3, Behjoo 3, Smith 2, Hayden, Atkins, Davis
Halftime Score: Canyons 37, Pasadena 34
Updated Records: Canyons 7-10, Pasadena (#13-South) 10-7
Pasadena rallied from 8 points down with 1:37 to tie it in the final minute, but Smith's 2 FTs with 3 secs left broke an 81-81 tie and won it for COC.
