Results tagged “San Bernardino Valley College” from Community College Sports
BY Michelle Gardner
Staff Writer
RIVERSIDE - All season San Bernardino Valley College basketball coach Gerry Wright has been waiting for someone other than his big two to step up. He’s still waiting.
Sophomores Johnny Barnes and Lewis Leonard combined for 57 points and 18 rebounds but it wasn’t enough as the Wolverines (1-7) fell to East Los Angeles 88-79 in first round action at the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic Tuesday at Riverside Community College.
The two came in averaging a combined 50 points but that hasn’t translated to many wins.
“We’re not getting enough production out of other guys,” said a frustrated Wright. “ They don’t want to be the guys taking all the shots and they are trying to involve others but they’re the only guys that have been making things happen.”
The Wolverines could never get over the hump. Their only lead of the game came at 12-11 when Leonard hit a jumper from the baseline. But that lead didn’t last long as the Huskies Damien Riley converted a three-point play at the other ends seconds later.
East L.A. (5-5) led by as many as 11 in the first half and was up 44-38 as Leonard and Barnes tallied 30 of those 38. The Huskies biggest lead of the second half came at 66-46 with 11:06 to go. SBVC got back within nine at 76-67 with 2:50 to play but East L.A. lived at the free-throw line the rest of the night, knocking down 13 of 14 tries.
“We’re doing all we can but two people can’t outplay 10 people,” Barnes said. “Everyone has to bring the same heart and the same passion for us to get it done.”
Barnes ended up with 34 points (15-for-32) from the field) and eight rebounds. While most of his points came in the paint, he did knock down three 3-pointers including back-to-back ones down the stretch with SBVC trying to rally.
Leonard, who played all 40 minutes, added 23 points and 10 rebounds with six assists and two steals. He went 8-for-24 but was 3-for-11 from long distance w ith some of his shots desperate attempts to make things happen.
Point guard Jacob Letson had nine points but was in foul trouble the entire game, picking up his fourth 1:11 into the second half and his fifth with 10:10 to go.
Wright said he does see potential in Sylvester Burel, who played basketball at Redlands East Valley but did not play at SBVC last season. He is just coming off football and isn’t in prime basketball shape yet but still contributed four points, five rebounds and a steal in 15 minutes.
“Right now its the whopped dog syndrome. You can only take so many before you just grimace and get ready for it,” Wright said. “I still think we have potential but we have to figure it out before conference starts.”
East Los Angeles, which shot 56 percent (28-for-50), had six players ion double figures with 6-10 Richard Westphain netting a team-high 17.
SBVC, which shot 50.5 percent (32-for-79), will play at 2 p.m. Thursday in a consolation bracket game.
In the first two games of the day Mt. San Jacinto (7-1) defeated Palomar 87-76 and Fullerton (9-0) cruised past Pasadena City 98-70.
By Michelle Gardner
Staff Writer
The Citrus College men’s basketball team is off to the best start in school history while San Bernardino Valley College is off to one of the worst. Both will be in the 16-team field of the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic which starts today and runs through Saturday at Riverside Community College.
San Bernardino Valley College (1-6), the defending Foothill Conference champion, will take the floor at 5 p.m. today against East Los Angeles (4-5). A win would put the Wolverines into the quarterfinals on Thursday, most likely against the host school.
Citrus (10-0), ranked fourth in Southern California and seventh in the state, faces a formidable challenge at 3 p.m. Wednesday against College of the Desert (6-1).
The event is a grind with teams playing as many as four straight days. But Owls coach Rick Croy thinks his team is ready.
“This team really is built for tournament play,” he said. “I have 13 players I use and I trust all 13 of them. We plan for fatigue before it even hits us.”
Sophomore guard Buchi Awaji (18.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg) heads the effort with freshman guard A.J. Gasporra (13.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.2 apg) and sophomore guard Darren Moore (13 ppg), planning to play next season at UC Irvine.
The Owls have two other players at nine points a game including sophomore forward Richard Frohlich (9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) who has already signed with Texas-San Antonio.
While the Owls have been impressive, Croy and his team know tougher tasks are ahead.
“We know there is another level of competition we haven’t faced yet but I am happy with where we’re at,” Croy said. “Our motto is stay humble and stay hungry. So far we have been able to do that.”
Meanwhile the Wolverines are looking to find their groove. But coach Gerry Wright isn’t panicking. Four of the six losses have been by single digit margins (two in overtime) and the schedule has been tough. Making it tougher, all the games have been on the road with the first game at Snyder Gymnasium not coming until Jan. 3.
The Wolverines are missing some players Wright was relying on, with one going down with a season-ending knee injury and another leaving the team so he could work.
“We scrimmaged a week before the season and the next week we didn’t have those guys,” Wright said. “We just have to take control and go a different direction because we don’t have the aces we thought we would have.”
The team is led by returning starters Johnny Barnes (22.8 ppg) and Lewis Leonard (27.8 ppg). Leonard had 28 points in the most recent loss, an 88-80 setback to Los Angeles City. Wright added that he is looking for more production from the newcomers, especially at the off guard position.
“Right now we’re getting points out of four or five guys. That’s something we have to address,” he said.
Citrus is one five teams that come in with state rankings. The others are No. 2 Fullerton (8-0), No. 6 Mt. San Jacinto (9-0), No. 12 Riverside (7-2) and No. 17 Antelope Valley (7-3). In addition Long Beach City (5-4) is ranked No. 13 in the South.
The Owls finished as runner-up in the event last year, losing the championship game to Riverside.
Here is today's schedule:
Palomar (3-5) vs. Mt. Sam Jacinto (9-0), 1 p.m.
Pasadena (0-6) vs. Fullerton (8-0), 3 p.m.
East Los Angeles vs. San Bernardino Valley, 5 p.m.
Riverside All-Stars vs. Riverside CC, 7 p.m.
Wednesday's games
Long Beach City (5-4) vs. Saddleback (4-5), 1 p.m.
Desert (6-1) vs. Citrus (10-0), 3 p.m.
Los Angeles Pierce (0-5) vs. San Diego City (2-6), 5 p.m.
Compton (2-9) vs. Antelope Valley (7-3), 7 p.m.
