Marin Men To Play For NorCal Hoops Title On Saturday
Even though Pierre Carter was carrying the offensive load for the College of Marin basketball team Wednesday night in the second round of the NorCal regional playoffs, there was just a feeling in the air somebody else was going to come in for the Mariners and make a significant contribution.
With 39 seconds remaining and COM nursing a slim lead over visiting Cosumnes River, Stan Kaya came off the bench for the first time and grabbed two huge rebounds and sank three of four free throws as the Mariners staved off CRC 79-72 before a near capacity crowd.
College of Marin (26-3) advances to the Norcal regional final and plays its third home game of the postseason at 7 p.m. Saturday when it hosts No. 10 Cañada of Redwood City, a 67-58 upset winner over No. 2 San Jose City College.
"Everybody comes ready to play every day," COM coach Dave Granucci said. "All the guys know they have to stay ready. That's why Stan could come out there in a pressure situation and do that."
The Mariners trailed only once in the game a little past midway in the second half after securing a 10-0 lead in the opening five minutes behind three quick field goals by Carter — game-high scorer with 31 — and a couple of baskets by Willie Rooks.
COM's big men made sure the lead held up late. Bobby Reeves muscled inside for a couple of layups, Brandon Kenilvort grabbed an offensive rebound, scored a put-back bucket and converted a three-point play and Kaya sealed the victory with his two big rebounds and three free throws.
"This team fights," COM sophomore guard Neal Chavez said. "We want to keep playing. We're enjoying the ride. We want to get up and go to practice tomorrow. We know if we don't win now we have to go home and we don't want to go home."
Cosumnes River (23-8), the Big 8 Conference champ presented plenty of challenges for the Mariners from sharp-shooting Phil Randles — six 3-pointers and 20 points — to Big 8 Conference MVP Mitchell Love to 6-foot-11 post Donald Mims.
But the Mariners had answers for all, especially on the defensive end down the stretch where they held the Hawks to six points in the final two minutes.
Offensively, however, it was Bay Valley Conference MVP Pierre Carter's night. Carter knocked down 11 field goals including four three-pointers in his best scoring outing of the season.
"My teammates got me the ball and got me comfortable out there," Carter said. "It was nice to see so many fans in the stands tonight. And we're not done yet."
CRC was not close to being done, either, even after falling in an early hole. The Hawks battled back to trail by only one, 33-32, at intermission.
"That's a good team," Granucci said. "Their playmaker (Love) is a beast."
The Hawks took their only lead at 54-52 with 9:40 remaining, but COM's Willie Rooks countered by swishing a 3-pointer. The Mariners extended the lead to four on the most bizarre play of the night — a George Johnson tip in that went straight up into the air 15 feet and hit nothing but net on the way down.
CRC never got closer than three points to the final buzzer.
After Carter's 31 points, Johnson added 11 and Rooks and Kenilvort had seven each. Guard Miller Blake led the team in rebounds with six.