SF Earnest Williams scored 31 pts to lead a potent Moorpark offense, and the Raiders (14-12, 5-4 in WSC-North) survived some missed free throws down the stretch to hold off visiting Cuesta (15-15, 7-3), 100-95 Thursday night.
The game featured a lot of offense from both teams right from the start. Less than 5 minutes into the contest, Cuesta held a 15-14 lead on the strength on 3 threes by SF Royce Hall. But Moorpark then went on a 12-1 run to take a lead it would hold the rest of the way, though Cuesta remained close throughout the game.
Cuesta trailed by just 2 at 31-29 when Moorpark went on a 10-0 run, fueled by a pair of 3-pointers by SG Anish Sharda, and a feed from Sharda to Ctr Joe Dural, making it 41-29. Moorpark still led by 9 at the half, 49-40.
The Raiders extended their lead to 15 at 62-47 after a pair of steals by PG Johnny Gray. Moorpark still led 68-55 before Cuesta began to rally.
A 3-pointer by Ben Belluci, followed by a steal by Belluci and a feed to Fwd Pierre Djinki, brought the Cougars to within 8 at 68-60. Cuesta continued to chip away at the Moorpark lead, closing to 7 at 74-67 on a 3-pointer by Nick Humphrey and to within 6 at 76-70 on a putback by Djinki. A 3-pointer by PF Kareem Grant narrowed the gap to 4 at 81-77 with less than 5 minutes left. Another Grant three brought Cuesta back to within 4 with about 2 minutes left at 86-82.
But that's as close as Cuesta would get. A pair of FTs by Williams (on 4 FTAs) plus a jumper by Sharda extended the lead back to 90-82. Only Moorpark's futility at the FT line - they missed 8 of 12 at one point including a pair of front ends of 1-and-1's - kept Cuesta within striking distance. Finally, Sharda nailed 4 FTs to basically seal the win for Moorpark.
Moorpark shot 56% from the floor on the night and committed just 8 turnovers. SG Anish Sharda had a spectacular night with 24 pts (including 4 threes), 10 assists and no turnovers. PG Johnny Gray added 10 pts and 9 assists (and no turnovers). And Ctr Joe Dural came off the bench to score 23 pts on 10/10 from the floor. Mike Atkinson topped the Raiders with 8 rebs.
Cuesta was led by Grant, who scored 22 pts (on 8/13) and grabbed 9 rebs. Hall and Ctr Borislav Djordjic each scored 13 pts. PG Jeff Kachel dished out 10 asts. Belluci came off the bench to score 9 pts and tie for game honors with 9 rebs.
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Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 7 pm
at Moorpark College
Western State Conference - North
Cuesta Cougars 95:
10-Royce Hall, SF - 4/12 fg, 2/2 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 13 pts
32-Nick Humphrey, SG - 3/8 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 8 pts
12-Jeff Kachel, PG - 2/3 fg, 1/1 ft, 3 reb, 10 ast, 6 pts
55-Borislav Djordjic, C - 5/7 fg, 3/3 ft, 5 reb, 13 pts
44-Kareem Grant, PF - 8/13 fg, 4/5 ft, 9 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 22 pts
21-Ben Belluci, F - 3/13 fg, 2/2 ft, 9 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 9 pts
33-Pierre Djinki, F - 5/7 fg, 1/1 ft, 6 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 11 pts
0-Gerald Purify, G - 0/1 fg, 1 stl, 0 pts
3-Ron Howard, G - 2/7 fg, 2/4 ft, 1 reb, 5 ast, 6 pts
24-Ryan Gastineau, C - 1/1 fg, 2 pts
35-Sterling Crane, C - 2/2 fg, 1/2 ft, 1 reb, 5 pts
team rebounds: 6
Totals: 35/74 fg (.473), 16/20 ft (.800), 45 reb, 22 ast, 1 blk, 4 stl, 95 pts
3-pt fg (9): Hall 3, Humphrey 2, Grant 2, Kachel, Belluci
Tech Foul: Bench (one of the assistant coaches)
Turnovers (17): Kachel 5, Belluci 4, Grant 2, Djinki 2, Howard 2, Humphrey, Purify
Moorpark Raiders 100:
0-Earnest Williams, SF - 10/19 fg, 8/19 ft, 7 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 31 pts
1-Johnny Gray, PG - 4/8 fg, 1/2 ft, 2 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl, 10 pts
5-Dallas Townsend, PF - 2/8 fg, 1/4 ft, 7 reb, 2 ast, 5 pts
22-Mike Atkinson, C - 3/7 fg, 1/4 ft, 8 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 7 pts
23-Anish Sharda, SG - 7/11 fg, 6/7 ft, 3 reb, 10 ast, 24 pts
3-Robert Palafox, G - 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 1 stl, 0 pts
40-Joe Dural, C - 10/10 fg, 3/5 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 23 pts
4-Todd Tomlinson, G - 0 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 36/64 fg (.563), 20/41 ft (.488), 34 reb, 29 ast, 1 blk, 6 stl, 100 pts
3-pt fg (8): Sharda 4, Williams 3, Gray
Turnovers (8): Dural 5, Williams, Townsend, Atkinson
Halftime Score: Moorpark 49, Cuesta 40
Updated Records: Moorpark 14-12 (5-4 in WSC-N), Cuesta 15-15 (7-3)
