Sixth-ranked Cabrillo saw a 14-point lead disappear but thanks to PG Tyler Velasquez the Seahawks recovered to post a 75-63 win over visiting West Valley to take a stranglehold on the Coast Conference's South Division.
Cabrillo (18-3, 8-0) held a 14-point lead at halftime, but saw West Valley rally to tie the game midway through the second half. But then Velasquez banked home a shot Tim Duncan-sytle and then hit a pull-up 3-pointer moments later to put the Seahawks back in front, and they led the rest of the way.
The win gives Cabrillo a 3-game lead and the tie-breaker over second-place West Valley, with just 4 games to play (3 for West Valley). The Seahawks are the only ranked team in the South Division, and can wrap up the division with a win over San Jose on Wednesday, and when the teams met last month Cabrillo won, 63-43.
Friday's game featured outstanding 3-point shooting by both teams. Cabrillo made a dozen 3-pointers, while West Valley topped that by making a total of 14. But Cabrillo's better overall shooting percentage (50% to 42%), a 15-4 advantage from the free throw line and a plus-14 rebounding advantage more than made up the difference in 3-point baskets.
West Valley (9-15, 6-3) started out hot, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the opening minutes and pushing the lead to 15-9 after SF Mike Beltramo made his third 3-pointer of the game.
But then Cabrillo went on a 10-0 run, taking a 22-15 lead after a 3-pointer by SG Dalton Noble - Cabrillo's fifth 3-pointer of the game - and a putback basket by PF Frank Rogers. Three-pointers by Noble and SG Aaron Short, followed by a rare 2-point jumper by Short, pushed the margin to 14 points at 35-21 at the half.
Cabrillo again led by 14 at 43-39 early in the second half when West Valley went on a 10-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back threes by PG Chris Murry, to get back into the game. A Beltramo three got the Vikings within three at 47-44 with 11:51 left, and another Murry three moments later tied the score at 47.
That's when Velasquez stepped up with his key bank-shot and, after a West Valley miss, a pull-up 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 52-47. He hit another 3-pointer a bit later to push the margin to six at 55-49.
Finally, in the last five-plus minutes, Cabrillo was able to pull away. A pull-up jumper by Short made it 60-52 with just over five minutes to go. A basket by Rogers off a feed from Velasquez on a fast break made it 62-52. Another Short 3-pointer made it 65-52, and the Seahawks led by double figures the rest of the way.
Five players scored in double figures for Cabrillo, led by Velasquez, who had 21 pts, 4 threes and 6 asts. Short had 19 pts, including 4 threes, and 7 rebs. Rogers had 12 pts and Noble came off the bench for 11, including 3 threes. SF Thomas Pierce had the game's only double-double with 10 pts, a game-high 11 rebs and 4 asts.
For West Valley, Murry poured in a game-high 25 pts, including 7 threes, and added 6 asts and a game-high 4 steals. Beltramo had 18 pts, which came on 6 threes and 6-for-9 shooting, plus 4 rebs and 3 asts.
box score
Friday, February 3, 2012 - 5 pm
at Cabrillo College, Aptos
Coast Conference - South
West Valley Vikings 63:
5-Kevin Brown, C - 1/4 fg, 2/2 ft, 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk, 3 pf, 4 pts
15-Anthony Hubbard, SG - 2/11 fg, 1 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 5 pts
24-Mike Beltramo, SF - 6/9 fg, 4 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 3 pf, 18 pts
25-Chris Murry, PG - 9/15 fg, 5 reb, 6 ast, 4 stl, 2 pf, 25 pts
33-Cameron Faison, PF - 2/8 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 5 pf, 4 pts
31-Chris Aitchison, F - 1/2 fg, 2/2 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 3 pf, 4 pts
22-Leyton Peterson, G - 1/2 fg, 1 reb, 1 pf, 3 pts
44-Luke Hollander, C - 0/1 fg, 0 pts
team rebounds: 0
Totals: 22/52 fg (.423), 4/4 ft (1.000), 23 reb, 19 ast, 1 blk, 7 stl, 17 pf, 63 pts
3-pt fg (14): Murry 7, Beltramo 6, Hubbard
Fouled Out: Faison 1:20 left
Turnovers (11): Murry 3, Brown 2, Aitchison 2, Beltramo, Faison, Peterson, team
Cabrillo Seahawks 75:
4-Frank Rogers, PF - 5/7 fg, 2/3 ft, 5 reb, 2 st, 2 stl, 1 pf, 12 pts
11-Aaron Short, SG - 7/11 fg, 1/1 ft, 7 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 19 pts
23-Tyler Velasquez, PG - 5/12 fg, 7/8 ft, 4 reb, 6 ast, 2 pf, 21 pts
34-Thomas Pierce, SF - 3/6 fg, 3/6 ft, 11 reb, 4 ast, 1 blk, 2 stl, 10 pts
43-Justyn Searle, C - 0/2 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 1 pf, 0 pts
33-Joe Saarem, F - 0/3 fg, 2 reb, 1 ast, 0 pts
44-C.J. Grigg, C - 1/1 fg, 1 reb, 2 pts
24-Dalton Noble, G - 3/8 fg, 2/2 ft, 3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 11 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 24/48 fg (.500), 15/22 ft (.682), 37 reb, 19 ast, 2 blk, 7 stl, 5 pf, 75 pts
3-pt fg (12): Short 4, Velasquez 4, Noble 3, Pierce
Turnovers (14): Velasquez 3, Noble 3, Pierce 2, Saarem 2, Searle, Grigg, team 2
Halftime Score: Cabrillo 35, West Valley 21
Updated Records: Cabrillo (#6-North, #12-Calif) 18-3, 8-0 in Coast-South; West Valley 9-15, 6-3 in Coast-South
West Valley led 15-9 early, but then Cabrillo went on a 13-0 run to take the lead. Cabrillo led by 14 when West Valley went on a 10-0 run to get back in the game.
West Valley tied it at 47, but then Velasquez made a bank-shot and a pull-up three to put Cabrillo back on top, 52-47, and the Seahawks led the rest of the way.
