Dixon second-half surge lifts SBVC to state championship final
By Chris Ruiz, Sports Information Association
NORWALK – Sophomore Tymarieh "T.A." Dixon (Pasadena, CA/Don Lugo HS) scored 15 second-half points to help lead the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines to a 78-68 win over the Chabot College Gladiators in the second semifinal of the 2014 CCCAA Men's Basketball State Championship at Cerritos College.
San Bernardino Valley will be making its second state championship final appearance. In 2005, the Wolverines lost 83-68 to eventual champion Fresno City College.
Dixon, along with teammate Keith Smith (Compton, CA/Centennial HS), put the Wolverines on their back in the second of Saturday's game, turning a narrow one-point 35-34 halftime lead into a near blowout. SBVC put together a 9-0 run and while a 15-6 run with all points being scored by Dixon and Smith gave the Wolverines its largest lead of the game at 59-44 at the 9:20 mark.
But Chabot didn't go down easy. With San Bernardino Valley up 71-57, Gladiators responded with an 11-0 run of its own to get within three points late at 71-68 with just 1:01 remaining.
San Bernardino Valley was able to secure the win making five of six free throws over the final minute, including four by freshman Charles Callison (Moreno Valley, CA/Canyon Springs HS).
Smith scored a game-high 23 points for San Bernardino Valley (29-7 overall) while sophomore Gerry Blakes (Inglewood, CA/Morningside HS) added 18 points and seven rebounds.
Chabot (25-8 overall) had four score in double-figures with sophomore Cortez Barrett (St. Louis, MO/Center HS) leading the squad with 17 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Greg Brown (San Pedro, CA/San Pedro HS) added 14 points and five rebounds.
Follow the action live at http://livestats.prestosports.com/cccaa/.