PG Kyle Olandt hit a key 3-pointer as #15 Moorpark overcame a somnambulant start to edge #8 Cuesta and move into first place in the WSC-North Saturday afternoon at Raider Pavilion.
Olandt, who had missed his first five shots of the game, nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 32.6 seconds remaining, giving Moorpark (13-7, 5-1) a 59-57 lead. Cuesta (18-5, 4-1) ended up having a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but PF Henok Yigzaw's 3-point try from the right elbow rattled out, allowing the Raiders to hold on.
Such a dramatic ending hardly seemed likely early on as Cuesta began the game on a 10-0 run in the first 3:28 and led by 14 points midway through the first half. The sleepwalking Raiders managed just 4 points in the first 9:30, falling behind, 18-4.
But Cuesta's momentum slowed when PG Christian Koutras and Ctr Xavier Mylleville both went to the bench with foul trouble, and Moorpark rallied to tie the game at 28 with 1:41 left in the first half. PF Seth Koenig made two free throws for Cuesta with one minute left in the first half, giving the Cougars a 32-30 lead at the break.
The game remained close in the second half, though Mylleville picked up his fourth foul with 15:10 left for practicing 1970's psychology (primal scream therapy) after blocking a shot. With the 6-7 Mylleville on the bench, Moorpark edged out to a 44-38 lead after a reverse lay-up by SG Dallas Rutherford midway through the second half.
Cuesta came back to tie the game at 45 on a driving lay-up by SF Roger Guardia with 9:17 left, though Koutras picked up his fourth foul soon thereafter, heading to the bench with 7:47 left.
Still, the game remained close in the final minutes, and with both Koutras and Mylleville back on the floor Cuesta took a 57-53 lead with under two minutes left after Guardia and Koenig scored. Ctr Mike Meza answered with a 3-pointer for Moorpark to make it 57-56, and nearly put the Raiders into the lead moments later with another three, but his jumper from the left corner rattled out. Then Moorpark got the ball back when PG Matt Mazarei stole the ball near midcourt, but he missed a lay-up and Guardia grabbed the rebound for Cuesta with 1:13 left.
Moorpark got the ball back with just over a minute left, and still trailed as the shot clock was winding down. The ball went to Olandt at the top of the key, and the 5-10 freshman from Westlake HS nailed the 3-pointer to put Moorpark into the lead.
Still, the game was far from over at that point. Cuesta got the ball into the hands of Guardia, who drove towards the basket. But Meza stood in and took the charge for the Raiders with 22.4 seconds left, giving Moorpark the ball with the 59-57 lead. Cuesta had no alternative but to foul immediately, and SF Eric Strangis made a pair of free throws with 20.7 seconds left to make it 61-57.
But it still wasn't over. SG Phillip Jimenez hit a 3-pointer for Cuesta with 13.4 seconds left to bring the Cougars within a point at 61-60. On the restart, Cuesta fouled Meza immediately, and he made a pair of free throws with 11.2 seconds left to make it 63-60.
Still, Cuesta had one last chance to tie the game, and got the ball to perhaps their top 3-point shooter, Yigzaw, just outside the right elbow. Yigzaw's shot looked to be dead on, but somehow rattled out, preserving Moorpark's lead by the narrowest of margins. SF Spencer Schulte grabbed the rebound and was fouled immediately. He made a free throw to make it 64-60 and clinch the win for the Raiders.
For Moorpark, Meza led all scorers with 21 pts, while Schulte had 16 pts and a team-high 9 rebs. PF Wendell Antoine had 14 pts and 8 rebs. Rutherford had just 4 pts but also had 8 rebs, 6 asts and 3 steals. Olandt had just the 3 pts, but they were rather significant, and he also dished out 6 asts.
For Cuesta, Guardia led the way with 20 pts, 13 rebs, 3 asts and 2 steals. Koenig had 14 pts and 8 boards. Koutras handed out a game-high 7 asts but did not score before he fouled out in the final seconds.
The win gives Moorpark a 5-1 conference record, a half-game ahead of both Cuesta and LA Pierce, both of whom are now 4-1 in WSC-North action.
box score
Saturday, January 23, 2010 - 3 pm
at the Raider Pavilion, Moorpark College
WSC-North
Cuesta Cougars 60:
1-Christian Koutras, PG - 0/4 fg, 0/2 ft, 4 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl, 5 pf, 0 pts
10-Roger Guardia, SF - 7/18 fg, 5/6 ft, 13 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 3 pf, 20 pts
12-Phillip Jimenez, SG - 3/10 fg, 3 reb, 2 stl, 3 pf, 8 pts
24-Seth Koenig, PF - 4/12 fg, 6/8 ft, 8 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 2 pf, 14 pts
35-Xavier Mylleville, C - 4/7 fg, 0/3 ft, 7 reb, 2 blk, 4 pf, 8 pts
32-Henok Yigzaw, F - 3/8 fg, 2/2 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 pf, 9 pts
5-Ralphie Santos, G - 0/1 fg, 1/2 ft, 1 pt
3-Jonathan Henry, G - 1 ast, 0 pts
0-Alexander Engel, G - 0/2 fg, 1 reb, 1 stl, 2 pf, 0 pts
44-Tomas Jones, F - 1 reb, 1 stl, 0 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 21/62 fg (.339), 14/23 ft (.609), 42 reb, 13 ast, 3 blk, 9 stl, 20 pf, 60 pts
3-pt fg (4): Jimenez 2, Guardia, Yigzaw
Technical Foul: Mylleville
Fouled Out: Koutras 1.2 seconds left
Turnovers (15): Guardia 5, Koutras 3, Koenig 3, Jimenez 2, Yigzaw, Engel
Moorpark Raiders 64:
1-Matt Mazarei, PG - 0/8 fg, 0/1 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 3 pf, 0 pts
4-Mike Meza, C - 7/13 fg, 6/7 ft, 5 reb, 1 blk, 1 stl, 1 pf, 21 pts
10-Spencer Schulte, SF - 4/10 fg, 5/7 ft, 9 reb, 1 ast, 2 pf, 16 pts
15-Dallas Rutherford, SG - 2/11 fg, 8 reb, 6 ast, 1 blk, 3 stl, 3 pf, 4 pts
32-Wendell Antoine, PF - 6/11 fg, 2/3 ft, 8 reb, 1 stl, 3 pf, 14 pts
22-Ryan Islas, F - 1/1 fg, 2 reb, 2 pf, 2 pts
20-Eric Strangis, F - 1/1 fg, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 1 blk, 2 pf, 4 pts
3-Kyle Olandt, G - 1/5 fg, 3 reb, 6 ast, 3 pf, 3 pts
5-Billy Corcoran, G - 0 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 22/60 fg (.367), 15/20 ft (.750), 42 reb, 15 ast, 3 blk, 7 stl, 19 pf, 64 pts
3-pt fg (5): Schulte 3, Meza, Olandt
Technical Foul: Coach McCarthy
Turnovers (17): Antoine 4, Meza 3, Rutherford 3, Mazarei 2, Olandt 2, Schulte, Islas, Strangis
Halftime Score: Cuesta 32, Moorpark 30
Updated Records: Moorpark (#15-South) 13-7 overall, 5-1 in WSC-North; Cuesta (#8-South, #16-Calif) 18-5, 4-1 in WSC-North
Cuesta started the game on a 10-0 run and led 18-4, but Moorpark rallied to tie it at 28 late in the 1st half.
Olandt's 3-pointer with 32.6 seconds left gave Moorpark a 59-57 lead.
Yigzaw's would-be game-tying 3-pointer rattled out with 1.2 seconds left
