PG Andy Medeiros scored 36 pts, including the game-winning basket with 6 seconds remaining, capping one of the most amazing comebacks of the season as Napa Valley (8-7) nipped #11 Butte (12-4) in the consolation final of the Delta Holiday tournament Sunday afternoon in Stockton.
Napa Valley trailed by 22 points early in the second half, and by 17 midway though the second half, before outscoring Butte 31-12 down the stretch for the win. This came just a day after Napa Valley reached the consolation final with a 98-73 blowout win over #7 Ohlone.
Butte dominated the first half, largely behind the inside play of PF Pavol Losonsky, who had 16 pts in the half, many after lobs from SG Jack Martin. At the break, Butte led, 48-32, and the Roadrunners widened that margin to 56-34 early in the second half after back-to-back 3-pointers by SF Ray Donahue.
Napa Valley rallied to close the margin to 9 points at 60-51 with just under 11 minutes left in the game, only to see Butte score the next 8 points to make it 68-51 and seem to put the game out of reach again.
But Napa Valley rallied again, again cutting the deficit to single digits when Medeiros scored with 6:30 left to make it 70-61.
And this time, the rally continued. Medeiros fed PF Aaron Trigg for a basket to make it 70-63. Then, with 3:30 left, Medeiros drained a three to make it a 2-point game at 74-72. And with 3:08 left, Medeiros scored on a putback of his own miss to tie the game at 74.
Twice after that, Butte went into the lead only to see Napa Valley tie the score again. Donahue scored for Butte to make it 76-74, but Medeiros scored again for Napa Valley tie it at 76. Then Losonsky scored to put Butte ahead, 78-76. But then Losonsky picked up his fifth foul with 1:27 left, and Medeiros made a pair of free throws to again tie the score at 78.
With the 6-8 Losonsky on the bench, Napa Valley finally went into the lead when Ctr Matt Jenkins knocked down a jumper with 1:01 left. But this time it was Butte that rallied, getting a putback by PF Makana Rice, in the game for Losonsky, after a miss by Martin. That made it 80-80 with 30 seconds left.
After a timeout with 15 seconds left, Napa Valley got the ball into Jenkins in the high post. Then Medeiros cut to the basket, and Jenkins hit him with a perfect bounce pass for a backdoor lay-up with 6 seconds left that turned out to be the winning basket.
Butte had one last chance to win, but Donahue's leaning 3-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the backboard, rolled around the rim and spun out.
It was an amazing win for Napa, which just two years ago was one of the least successful programs in California. Medeiros, who finished with 36 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts and 2 steals, was clearly the standout. But he has some solid support from Trigg (11 pts), SF Ashton Foster (10 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts), SF Aaron MaGee (10 pts, 3 steals) and Jenkins (8 pts, 3 rebs, 3 asts).
For Butte, Losonsky led the way with 26 pts and 13 rebs. Donahue was also outstanding - and nearly the hero - with 24 pts, 5 rebs and 6 asts. PG Donavan Plunkett had 9 pts while Martin had 6 pts and a game-high 10 asts.
box score
Delta Holiday Tournament
Sunday, December 16, 2007 @ Joseph Blanchard Gym, Stockton
Consolation Final - 12 noon
Butte Roadrunners 80:
11-Jack Martin, SG - 2/10 fg, 2 reb, 10 ast, 2 stl, 2 pf, 6 pts
15-Ray Donahue, SF - 9/19 fg, 3/4 ft, 5 reb, 6 ast, 1 pf, 24 pts
30-Donavan Plunkett, PG - 3/6 fg, 3 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl, 2 pf, 9 pts
32-Pavol Losonsky, PF - 12/17 fg, 2/2 ft, 13 reb, 5 pf, 26 pts
55-Donatas Visockis, C - 2/7 fg, 5 reb, 4 ast, 4 blk, 1 stl, 2 pf, 4 pts
31-Makana Rice, F - 3/5 fg, 2/3 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 2 pf, 8 pts
20-Andy Roberts, F - 1/2 fg, 2 ast, 3 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 32/66 fg (.485), 7/9 ft (.778), 35 reb, 25 ast, 5 blk, 7 stl, 14 pf, 80 pts
3-pt fg (9): Donahue 3, Plunkett 3, Martin 2, Roberts
Technical Foul: Donahue
Fouled Out: Losonsky 1:27 left
Turnovers (17): Losonsky 5, Martin 4, Rice 4, Plunkett 2, Donahue, Visockis
Napa Valley Storm 82:
2-Matt Jenkins, C - 4/9 fg, 3 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk, 2 stl, 1 pf, 8 pts
3-Andy Medeiros, PG - 13/18 fg, 8/8 ft, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 36 pts
21-Ashton Foster, SF - 4/12 fg, 2/2 ft, 8 reb, 3 ast, 1 pf, 10 pts
22-Aaron Trigg, PF - 5/7 fg, 1/3 ft, 4 reb, 1 ast, 4 pf, 11 pts
31-Chad Lichau, SG - 2/7 fg, 0/1 ft, 1 ast, 1 stl, 5 pts
1-James Crockett, G - 0/3 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 0 pts
33-Max Frise, C - 1/2 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 2 pf, 2 pts
4-Aaron MaGee, F - 4/7 fg, 2/2 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl, 1 pf, 10 pts
23-Jeff Hurd, G - 1 reb, 1 pf, 0 pts
team rebounds: 6
Totals: 33/65 fg (.508), 13/16 ft (.813), 33 reb, 15 ast, 2 blk, 8 stl, 10 pf, 82 pts
3-pt fg (3): Medeiros 2, Lichau
Turnovers (16): Trigg 5, Jenkins 3, Medeiros 3, Lichau 2, Foster, Crockett, Frise
Halftime Score: Butte 48, Napa Valley 32
Updated Records: Napa Valley 8-7, Butte (#11-North, #19-Calif) 12-4
Butte led by 22 early in the 2nd half and 17 midway through the 2nd half
Medeiros scored the winning basket on a backdoor lay-up from Jenkins with 6 secs left
