SG Franklin Session had a huge game with 16 pts, 14 rebs, 4 asts, 3 blocks and 3 steals, and PF Kevin Menner had a successful homecoming with 20 pts and 8 rebs as Saddleback bested host Ventura, 73-67, in the 3rd Place game of the We Play Hard tournament.
Session gained All-Tournament team honors for his strong performance, and Menner, who starred for Ventura last season, led all scorers in the game. Add a strong performance by PG Perry Webster, who had 12 pts and 6 asts, and made 4 free throws in the final 30 seconds as the Gauchos held off Ventura for the victory.
Ventura jumped out to a 10-2 lead early on, but Saddleback rallied to tie the game at 19 and took a 23-21 lead moments later. By halftime the advantage was 7 points at 35-28, and a 3-point play by Webster pushed Saddleback's lead to 10 points at 55-45 midway through the second half.
But Ventura rallied, closing the gap to 5 points with 2:27 left and to just 2 points at 69-67 after a 3-pointer by PG Dee Pinkard with just over 30 seconds left. However, that would be Ventura's last basket, and the free throws by Webster sealed the win for the Gauchos.
SG Prince Abidoye led Ventura with 16 pts, including 3 threes. Ctr Will Faiivae added 14 pts and 6 rebs, and SG Danny Benson had 10 pts and 3 asts.
box score
We Play Hard Tip-Off Tourney @ Ventura College
Sunday, November 9, 2008 - 3 pm
3rd Place Game
Saddleback Gauchos 73:
4-Kevin Menner, PF - 10/17 fg, 0/1 ft, 8 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 2 pf, 20 pts
21-Aaron Woods, SF - 2/7 fg, 1 reb, 2 pf, 4 pts
23-Franklin Session, SG - 6/16 fg, 3/4 fg, 14 reb, 4 ast, 3 blk, 3 stl, 2 pf, 16 pts
30-Perry Webster, PG - 2/9 fg, 8/9 ft, 4 reb, 6 ast, 1 stl, 4 pf, 12 pts
33-Sarunas Jackson, C - 4/4 fg, 0/3 ft, 8 reb, 3 ast, 3 pf, 8 pts
31-Marquis Green, G - 1/3 fg, 1 reb, 2 stl, 1 pf, 3 pts
24-T.J. Lipold, F - 0/1 fg, 3 reb, 2 blk, 0 pts
11-Malik Wilson, G - 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 0 pts
41-Billy Azizi, C - 1/3 fg, 2/2 ft, 5 reb, 3 ast, 4 pf, 4 pts
10-Terrell Mack, F - 1/4 fg, 1/2 ft, 1 reb, 4 pts
32-Elijah York, F - 1/3 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 2 pts
team rebounds: 4
Totals: 28/68 fg (.412), 14/21 ft (.667), 51 reb, 18 ast, 6 blk, 7 stl, 17 pf, 73 pts
3-pt fg (3): Session, Green, Mack
Turnovers (14): Session 4, Menner 3, Wilson 3, Azizi 2, Webster, Jackson
Ventura Pirates 67:
5-Danny Benson, SG - 4/9 fg, 2/2 ft, 2 reb, 3 ast, 1 pf, 10 pts
20-Eric Gray, SF - 2/5 fg, 6 reb, 3 ast, 1 pf, 5 pts
22-Jordan Harris, PF - 2/5 fg, 8 reb, 1 ast, 1 pf, 4 pts
25-Dee Pinkard, PG - 2/5 fg, 0/2 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 5 pts
42-Will Faiivae, C - 5/7 fg, 4/6 ft, 6 reb, 1 blk, 4 pf, 14 pts
4-Anthony Burtley, F - 2/8 fg, 1 reb, 1 blk, 2 pf, 4 pts
10-Pepe Araujo, F - 0/1 fg, 1 ast, 1 stl, 0 pts
11-Prince Abidoye, G - 4/12 fg, 6/8 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 2 pf, 17 pts
12-Mike Diacos, G - 1/6 fg, 3/4 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 2 slt, 2 pf, 5 pts
33-Randy Hunter, C - 1/5 fg, 1/2 ft, 4 reb, 1 blk, 3 pf, 3 pts
30-Andre Jamerson, G - 2 pf, 0 pts
55-Jeremiah Slowik, F - 0 pts
team rebounds: 5
Totals: 23/63 fg (.365), 16/24 ft (.667), 40 reb, 13 ast, 3 blk, 5 stl, 18 pf, 67 pts
3-pt fg (5): Abidoye 3, Gray, Pinkard
Turnovers (13): Faiivae 4, Abidoye 3, Benson 2, Pinkard, Diacos, Hunter, Jamerson
Halftime Score: Saddleback 35, Ventura 28
Updated Records: Saddleback 2-1, Ventura 1-2
Session (Saddleback) was named to the All-Tournament Team
