THE MONARCHS SURVIVE SCARE FROM RESILIENT LA TRADE TECH

by Matthew Robinson

The Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs were fortunate to win 83-79 on the road and over the Los Angeles Trade Tech Beavers (LATTC) tonight. This non-league men's basketball game had the energy from the players and fans of that of a crucial playoff game later in the season.

In the first half of this game, the Beavers and their fans inside Laurel Gymnasium, were oblivious to the fact that their team came into this game 0-6. Three pointers and inside the paint success (2-pointers), had the Monarchs (3-3 overall) on their heels.

But the Monarchs weren't fooled by the Beavers' season mark thus far. Valley College assistant coach VAL KHAMENIA knew it wasn't wise to take a winless team for granted. "We prepared for them [LATTC] like they were six and zero, not zero and six." It's a good thing they did what Khamenia said, because Valley could have been Tech's first victim to end their losing streak which dates back to the last five games (all losses) of the 2014-2015 season.

Even though his team lost this game, Tech freshman guard JONATHAN WELLS discussed the energy of the Tech fans and how they were instrumental in helping Tech to almost pulling out a victory. "Fan support is great up here, Wells said. It's definitely a really good group of people all around."

Monarch forward SAM BAUER, tried to assess the losing streak of the Beavers post-game "I'm sure they're [LATTC] mad that they are 0-6, and I'm sure they wanted to come home in their home game and play with energy, Bauer said. But that's all I have to say about that because I'm not on their team."

Tech kicked off the scoring with an inside the paint successful shot by Beavers forward JUSTIN CLARK almost two minutes into the game for a 2-0 lead. Clark was one of Tech's key players tonight as his shooting success and defense helped Tech's cause.

Tech forward DAJION HENDERSON who was helpful in the defensive department tonight, communicated his thoughts on Clark. "He [Clark] played real good today. I didn't expect that out of him," Henderson said.

Valley was pressing, going a little too fast, and they had too many air balls. But later they were able to settle, when shooting guard MICHAEL MORRISEY hit a three pointer to put the score at 7-5 with Tech still in the lead.

Down 18-10, forward DREW CANNON helped give the Monarchs some breathing room with a 2-pointer under the basket and a subsequent foul shot to put the score at 18-13.

Near the eleven-minute mark of the first quarter, guard CHRISTIANE BOONE helped the Monarchs cause tremendously, with a successful three-pointer to cut Tech's lead to 20-18.

Valley had their first lead of the game at 24-20 and at the 10:02 mark, courtesy of three-pointers by Boone (1) and Morrissey (2).

Shooting guard DONTE MEDFORD had a marvelous head/body fake versus a Valley defender, and then a layup score to cut Valley's lead to 29-26 near 5:20 mark of first quarter.

In less than 3 minutes Medford was killing Valley, as he took care of five points to tie the score at 31-31 near the four-minute mark. Medford's teammates love his work ethic and what he brings to the team. "Donte's great. Just a pure shooter, Wells said. He's stays focused the whole time, makes sure everybody's locked in. [Does] things a captain is supposed to do on the court." 

Near the 2:17 mark, Valley showed some life as they were on the wrong end of a six-point run by Tech. But Cannon cut the lead to 37-35 with an under the basket and into the net score.

Tech went into halftime with a 42-40 lead coming off the heels of two points at the foul line by COREY PAYNE of the Monarchs.

Forward TATURS MAYBERRY gave the Monarchs their first lead in some time (in the second half) with a three-point score near the Valley bench and near the beginning of the second half. to give Valley a 44-42 lead.

Medford gave the Beavers the lead right back at 49-48, with a three-point goal near the Tech bench. That play took place inside of thirteen-minute mark.

Because of Tech's 6-2 run, which gave them a 55-50 lead at the 14:02 mark, Valley was forced a take a timeout. 

Valley put an end to that Tech scoring run, as Morrissey cut a three-pointer near the 13:22 mark for a 56-55 lead. Then a few minutes later, Boone executed a three-pointer near the Tech stands with him nearly stepping out of bounds when he shot the ball. Boone's balancing-act three-pointer gave Valley a 59-55 lead.

Near the ten-minute mark, Clark executed a three-pointer to put Tech within five at 63-58. At that point Tech really needed that three-pointer.

But Valley answered less than a minute later Monarch guard GUILLERMO BLAS connected on a three-pointer not too far from half court to give Valley a 66-60 lead.

Forward KEISHAUN YOUNG-JONES cut Valley's lead to 70-64 with a leaning two pointer just outside the paint near the five-minute mark.

Clark helped Tech stay in the game, with a twist and turning tip in of a 2-pointer for a 77-71 score with around 2 minutes left in the contest.

Tech just wouldn't die. As Medford took an errant Valley pass and took it to the hole to cut the Monarchs' lead to 80-73 with just over a minute left in the game.

With just under 16 seconds left in the game, Medford did it again with a three-pointer that he sunk near the Tech bench to cut the green and gold's lead to 80-76.

Blas REALLY put the game away with two successful foul shots to make the final score 83-79.

Bauer knew how important Blas' free-throw shooting was in this game, especially near the end of the game. "Free throws are huge especially at the end of the game, Bauer said. Blas is that guy. We want him at the line [free-throw line]."