Posted: Mar 04, 2013
Riverside Loses Home Playoff Game to San Bernardino; Tigers’ season ends at 19-9
San Bernardino
(21-8, South #10)
66
Riverside
(19-9, South #7)
56
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
San Bernardino (21-8, South #10) | 28 | 38 | 66 |
|
Riverside (19-9, South #7) | 21 | 35 | 56 |
RIVERSIDE – Playing behind for nearly the entire game, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's basketball team couldn't overcome the determination of the visiting San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) Wolverines, 66-56, in Southern California regional second-round playoff game Friday evening at Wheelock Gymnasium.
Riverside City (19-9, South No. 7 seed) led, 9-4, with 16:09 left in the first half on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Mason Biddle (Riverside / Arlington HS). Then SBVC (21-8, South No. 10 seed) went on a 12-0 run (4:22 span) for a 16-9 lead with 11:47 remaining in the opening stanza.
The Tigers clawed their way back to within 21-20 with 4:31 to go, but SBVC closed out the first half with a 28-21 advantage on a three-pointer at the buzzer by freshman guard Gerry Blakes (Inglewood / Morningside HS).
In the second half, Riverside crept to within 37-36 on free throw by freshman forward Jeff Gonzalez (Riverside / Polytechnic HS) with 11:06 left in the game, but the Wolverines regrouped once again and built a 57-44 margin with 4:13 to play on a layin by freshman forward Chayson Williams (Lawndsale / Leuzinger HS), his only points of the game. About a minute earlier, sophomore guard Cameron Lewis (Fontana / Summit HS) delivered a dagger with a three-pointer for a 55-44 lead with 5:07 remaining.
But the lack of successful free throws proved to be RCC's undoing. The Tigers converted only 19 of 34 from the line, while SBVC made 18 of 22 from the charity stripe.
Biddle tossed in a game-high 15 points before fouling out. Freshman forward Anthony Rounds (Perris / Citrus Hill HS) and sophomore guard Dominique Lanier (Lakewood / Lakewood HS) each added ten points for Riverside. Sophomore forward Shannon Fowler (Corona / Roosevelt HS had six points and a team-high five rebounds.
For the Wolverines, freshman guard Lance Booker (Playa del Rey / St. Bernard's HS) led with 14 points, Blakes was next with 13 markers. Freshman center Mwape Paulin (Redlands / East Valley HS) added ten points and co-game-high seven rebounds.
With the loss, the season comes to a close for Riverside. SBVC advances to play on Wednesday, Mar. 6, the winner of Saturday night's (March 2) battle at Ventura College as it hosts Mt. San Jacinto College