Newly-minted #1-ranked Fresno shook off an early deficit and raced to a 75-60 win over DeAnza behind 18 pts each from PF Chris Ashanti and SG Colton Hafey in a first-round game at the 76th Annual Modesto JC tournament Tuesday afternoon.
Fresno (9-1) ascended to the #1 spot in the North in the December 2nd coaches' poll, and after falling behind, 10-3, in the early stages of the game led by as many as 21 points early in the second half before holding off a late rally by DeAnza (2-4) to post its 6th straight win.
And the Rams did it with their usual ensemble cast, using 14 players, none of which took more than 6 shots from the floor. And though the Rams under coach Ed Madec have always been known for having an active bench, it has reached a new level this season with the players on the bench repeating - loudly and in unison - seemingly every phrase Madec or assistant coach Mike Marcial shouts out, which has to be a bit unnerving for the opposition.
Still, DeAnza started out well with a 10-0 run to take a 10-3 early on. Fresno rallied to take an 11-10 lead, but PF Evan Bull and Ctr Shaquille Gilbert scored on lay-ups to put the Dons back in front, 14-11.
Fresno went back on top on a putback basket by PF Terrance Weineike that made it 17-16 with just over 9 minutes left in the first half, and the Rams led the rest of the way.
For the rest of the first half, Fresno gradually widened its lead. Ctr Kyle Ingram scored on a putback and PF Ryan Swain made 2 free throws to make it 21-16. Two free throws by Ashanti pushed the lead to 6 at 25-19. Another free throw by Swain made it 28-21. Hafey made it a 10-point game at 33-23 with a 3-pointer with 1:42 left. Ashanti scored after a steal - off a pass from PG James O'Neal - to make it 35-23. A 3-pointer by SF Rich Tesmer made it 38-24 with 1:02 left, and a free throw by PG Dejon Burdeaux pushed the margin to 15 at 39-24 before DeAnza got a baseline jumper from Bull to cut the defici to 13 at the half at 39-26.
When the second half started, Fresno continued to expand its lead. Ingram scored off a pass from Hafey to make it 47-31, and then Hafey made a 3-pointer - his 5th of the game to that point - to make it 50-31. A driving lay-up by Tesmer gave Fresno a 52-31 lead with 15:52 left.
DeAnza rallied to cut into the lead midway through the half, thanks largely to PG Nate Viera, who scored 19 of his game-high 24 pts in the second half. A Viera 3-pointer cut the defcit to 10 points at 57-47, and then Viera made 2 free throws with 8:44 left to cut the margin to single digits at 57-49.
But then Fresno went on a 7-0 spurt to pull away again. Pairs of free throws from O'Neal and Burdeaux made it 61-51, and Hafey swished his 6th three pointer moments later ot push the lead back to 13 points at 64-51 with just over 7 minutes to go. Fresno led comfortably the rest of the way.
For Fresno, Ashanti had 18 pts, 4 rebs, 3 asts and 2 steals in a solid all-around performance. And Hafey put on a remarkable shooting exhibition, making all 6 of his shots, all from beyond the 3-point line, and never touching the rim once as all 6 baskets were perfect splashes. Burdeaux and Ingram each scored 8 pts, with Ingram also grabbing a team-high 5 rebs.
For DeAnza, Viera had a huge game with game-highs of 24 pts, including 4 three-pointers, and 8 asts. Gilbert had 12 pts and a game-high 9 rebs despite fouling out with 4:24 left. SG Kyle Connor had 9 pts, 4 rebs, 4 asts, 2 blocks and 2 steals.
box score
76th Annual Modesto JC Tourney
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
First Round - 2 pm
Fresno Rams 75:
2-Chris Russell, SG - 1/4 fg, 1 reb, 5 ast, 1 pf, 2 pts
3-Rich Tesmer, SF - 3/4 fg, 0/1 ft, 2 reb, 5 pf, 7 pts
21-Chris Ashanti, PF - 4/6 fg, 7/11 ft, 4 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 18 pts
22-Deangelo Ashley, C - 0/1 fg, 2 reb, 1 pf, 0 pts
32-James O'Neal, PG - 2/6 fg, 2/2 ft, 4 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 6 pts
1-Dejon Burdeaux, G - 2/6 fg, 4/7 ft, 1 ast, 1 stl, 3 pf, 8 pts
10-Colton Hafey, G - 6/6 fg, 1 ast, 2 pf, 18 pts
14-Brian Chambers, F - 0/2 fg, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 2 pf, 2 pts
15-Terrance Weineike, F - 1/1 fg, 1/2 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 3 pf, 3 pts
35-Kyle Ingram, C - 3/4 fg, 2/2 ft, 5 reb, 1 blk, 8 pts
33-Kwuan Guerrero, F - 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 0 pts
4-Ryan Swain, F - 0/4 fg, 3/4 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 3 pts
20-Alex Chavez, G - 0/2 fg, 3 reb, 1 pf, 0 pts
34-Tyler Morgan, G - 0/1 fg, 0 pts
team rebounds: 4
Totals: 22/48 fg (.458), 21/31 ft (.677), 30 reb, 16 ast, 2 blk, 9 stl, 20 pf, 75 pts
3-pt fg (10): Hafey 6, Ashanti 3, Tesmer
Fouled Out: Tesmer 11:57 left
Turnovers (10): Russell 2, Ashanti 2, Chavez 2, Tesmer, O'Neal, Hafey, Morgan
DeAnza Dons 60:
5-Shaquille Gilbert, C - 6/9 fg, 9 reb, 1 blk, 5 pf, 12 pts
10-Nate Viera, PG - 6/14 fg, 8/8 ft, 3 reb, 8 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 24 pts
15-Kyle Connor, SG - 2/8 fg, 4/6 ft, 4 reb, 4 ast, 2 blk, 2 stl, 1 pf, 9 pts
20-Chris Shaw, SF - 2/3 fg, 0/1 ft, 2 reb, 5 pts
34-Jack Pasquini, PF - 0/1 fg, 4 reb, 1 blk, 4 pf, 0 pts
4-Nick Ruotolo, G - 2 reb, 3 pf, 0 pts
21-Alex Bull, F - 2/7 fg, 0/1 ft, 2 reb, 1 stl, 4 pf, 4 pts
31-DeVontae Bryant, F - 1/3 fg, 4 reb, 3 pf, 2 pts
30-Keian Taylor, G - 0 pts
2-Devon Ware, G - 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 2 pf, 0 pts
23-Kenny Robinson, F - 0/1 fg, 0 pts
24-D.J. Rodriguez, F - 1/3 fg, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 4 pts
team rebounds: 4
Totals: 20/50 fg (.400), 14/18 ft (.778), 36 reb, 12 ast, 4 blk, 4 stl, 24 pf, 60 pts
3-pt fg (6): Viera 4, Connor, Shaw
Fouled Out: Gilbert 4:24 left
Turnovers (18): Viera 7, Gilbert 2, Pasquini 2, Connor, Shaw, Bull, Bryant, Taylor, Ware, Rodriguez
Halftime Score: Fresno 39, DeAnza 26
Updated Records: Fresno (#1-North, #2-Calif) 9-1, DeAnza 2-4
DeAnza led 10-3 early after a 10-0 run and led again at 14-11.
Fresno took a 17-16 lead and gradually pulled away , building a 52-31 lead early in 2nd half.
DeAnza rallied to get within 8 at 57-49 with 8:44 left, but then Fresno pulled away again.
