DEFENDING MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMP SADDLEBACK HOLDS OF FRESNO IN OT TO ADVANCE TO SUNDAY FINALE WITH CCSF
LIVERMORE – It took a late comeback and overtime for defending champion Saddleback College to score a 66-61 victory over Fresno City College in the semifinals of the California Community College Athletic Association Men's Basketball Tournament Saturday night on Tony Costello Court at Las Positas College.
On Sunday, at 3:30 p.m., the state-No 1 ranked Gauchos will match 31-1 records with No. 2 City College of San Francisco, an 86-71 winner over Chaffey College in the other semifinal.
A layin by Breaon Brady just 16 seconds into the extra period began a 6-point Saddleback run which the Rams could not overcome. Fresno did make it a 2-point game twice before a pair of 3-pointers by Devonte Klines increased the margin to 64-58 with 1:02 left. Fresno got a 3-point basket from Mike Craley with 42 seconds left to make it 64-61, but the Rams could not connect on their final two beyond-the-arc tries.
Lyle Hexom led Saddleback with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Aaron Cameron had 14 points for Central Valley Conference champion Fresno (28-7), ranked No. 6 in the state.
Fresno led for most of the game – by as many as 12 points --and throughout the second half.
Saddleback worked back to close to with one point at 45-44, on a field goal by Maurice Jones with 4 minutes left in regulation. Fresno led, 49-46, with 1:59 remaining after a pair of free throws by Cameron. Saddleback closed to one point on free throws by T.J. Shorts with 1:33 left and tied it at 49 on a charity shot by Hexom with 43 seconds remaining. Both teams then missed potential winning shots, creating the extra session.
Prior to the overtime, Saddleback's previous lead was 16-15 with 5:15 left in the first half – after which Fresno went on a 12-point run to gain control. It was 28-19 at halftime.
--This is 3-time champion Saddleback's seventh appearance in the championship game. The Gauchos won the title in 2002, 2010, 2015. State second-ranked San Francisco will be seeking its first title since 2011 and second overall, having also won in 1962. It is CCSF's eighth time in the finals.
WIN STREAKS: Saddleback brings a 25-game win streak into the finale and CCSF a 22-game skein.
Contact: Fred Baer frdbaer@aol.com mobile/txt: 650.483.3733