COUGAR TOURNAMENT AT VALENCIA
Once again the Marauders (7-10) had trouble defending the threes down the stretch, and allowed the Cougars (9-9) to overcome a five point lead with four minutes left and bouce AVC from the Canyons Tournament.
For the Marauders, it was their first loss to the Cougars in three games this season, but it was also their first game with Deonte Huff, who suffered a broken wrist in the overtime loss to Moorpark on Tuesday. It is unknown how long Huff, who scored 32 against the Cougars just 10 days before.
Still, AVC was seven for 19 from the free throw line in the second half, shoting 48 percent from the line for the game.
The Cougars didn't score a field goal for the first nine minutes of the second half, but when they hit four straight threes, they were within two with eight minutes left. Canyons hit six of their seven threes in the second half, shooting 54 percent in that period. They ended shooting better from three (.500) that they did from the field (.455).
To make matters worse, Rob Bates, who had a double-double against Moorpark went out with a tender knee.
Gary Thomas scored six threes and 18 points, while Donte Bell and Xavier Johnson, who started for Huff, scored 15 each. Raphael Harris pulled down 11 rebounds.
It was the first time AVC has been bounced from a tournament in two games since the 2000 Oxnard Tournament.
Once again the Marauders (7-10) had trouble defending the threes down the stretch, and allowed the Cougars (9-9) to overcome a five point lead with four minutes left and bouce AVC from the Canyons Tournament.
For the Marauders, it was their first loss to the Cougars in three games this season, but it was also their first game with Deonte Huff, who suffered a broken wrist in the overtime loss to Moorpark on Tuesday. It is unknown how long Huff, who scored 32 against the Cougars just 10 days before.
Still, AVC was seven for 19 from the free throw line in the second half, shoting 48 percent from the line for the game.
The Cougars didn't score a field goal for the first nine minutes of the second half, but when they hit four straight threes, they were within two with eight minutes left. Canyons hit six of their seven threes in the second half, shooting 54 percent in that period. They ended shooting better from three (.500) that they did from the field (.455).
To make matters worse, Rob Bates, who had a double-double against Moorpark went out with a tender knee.
Gary Thomas scored six threes and 18 points, while Donte Bell and Xavier Johnson, who started for Huff, scored 15 each. Raphael Harris pulled down 11 rebounds.
It was the first time AVC has been bounced from a tournament in two games since the 2000 Oxnard Tournament.
