Shasta (11-3) claimed a narrow decision over defending tourney champion American River (7-7). PG Devon Hills scored 20 pts and dished out 9 asts to lead the way, and SF Justin Cascarina hit several big shots down the stretch for the Knights.
A pair of threes by Cascarina sandwiched around a leaner by Hills gave Shasta a 71-61 lead, but then ARC rallied. A putback basket by SG Eric Boyce, 2 FTs by SF Lavelle Joyner and a free throw by SF Steven Day cut the margin to 71-66, and a three by Day closed it to 71-69.
Shasta restored an 8-point lead on a three by SG Hayden Heiber and a 3-point play by PF Sean Jergo before ARC rallied again. A steal by PG Nate Walker, who then fed to Day for a layup, made it 81-78, and a pair of FTs by PF Wolfgang Raffety made it 81-80 with 57.8 seconds left.
Then Shasta got the ball into the frontcourt, and Cascarina drew a foul from ARC Ctr William Pitts. Not only did Cascarina make both FTs to give the Beavers a 3-point lead, but it was Pitts' 5th foul. After a miss at the other end by ARC's Day, Jergo got the rebound and was fouled immediately. He made both FTs to make it 85-80. Baird (1/2 FTs) and Hills (2/2 FTs) made enough foul shots in the final seconds that ARC never again had the chance to tie the game.
Baird had 19 pts and 5 asts for Shasta, and Jergo finished with 13 pts and a team-best 6 boards. Boyce led American River with 23 pts. Day added 19 pts while Raffety had 15 plus 4 rebs, 4 asts and 2 blocks.
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Unofficial Box Score:
Friday, December 17, 2004 - 4 pm
Kris Kringle Classic @ Haehl Pavilion, SRJC
Consolation Semifinal #2
American River Beavers 84:
3-Eric Boyce, SG - 8/19 fg, 4/6 ft, 6 reb, 3 ast, 23 pts
4-Anthony Harrell, PG - 4 reb, 2 ast, 0 pts
23-Steven Day, SF - 7/14 fg, 3/4 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 19 pts
32-William Pitts, C - 3/4 fg, 2/9 ft, 8 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 2 stl, 8 pts
34-Wolfgang Raffety, PF - 5/9 fg, 4/4 ft, 4 reb, 4 ast, 2 blk, 15 pts
10-Nate Walker, G - 0/4 fg, 1/2 ft, 3 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 1 pt
44-Lavelle Joyner, F - 3/8 fg, 2/2 ft, 4 reb, 1 blk, 1 stl, 8 pts
11-Troy Hall, G - 2/4 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 4 pts
33-Walter Briggs, F - 1/2 fg, 2/2 ft, 4 pts
12-Richard Nelson, C - 0/1 fg, 2/4 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 2 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 29/65 fg (.446), 20/33 ft (.606), 43 reb, 19 ast, 5 blk, 5 stl, 84 pts
3-pt fg (6): Boyce 3, Day 2, Raffety
Fouled Out: Pitts 47.9 seconds left
Turnovers (19): Raffety 4, Day 3, Joyner 3, Boyce 2, Harrell 2, Pitts 2, Walker, Hall, Briggs
Shasta Knights 88:
3-Jon Baird, SG - 6/8 fg, 4/6 ft, 2 reb, 5 ast, 19 pts
5-Devon Hills, PG - 5/13 fg, 8/8 ft, 5 reb, 9 ast, 1 blk, 3 stl, 20 pts
34-Jason Carpenter, SF - 1/2 fg, 1 reb, 2 ast, 2 pts
40-Brian Long, C - 1/1 fg, 1 reb, 2 pts
44-Sean Jergo, PF - 5/9 fg, 3/3 ft, 6 reb, 1 ast, 13 pts
21-Shayne Stevenson, F - 3/6 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 7 pts
32-Gary Workman, F - 2/2 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2 pts
10-Johnnie Lavender, G - 2/2 fg, 2 ast, 1 stl, 4 pts
33-Justin Cascarina, F - 3/5 fg, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 11 pts
20-Hayden Heiber, G - 3/7 fg, 3 ast, 1 stl, 8 pts
30-Triston Hopson, F - 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 0 pts
team rebounds: 5
Totals: 29/54 fg (.537), 19/21 ft (.905), 25 reb, 26 ast, 1 blk, 7 stl, 88 pts
3-pt fg (11): Baird 3, Cascarina 3, Hills 2, Heiber 2, Stevenson
Turnovers (16): Jergo 4, Stevenson 3, Lavender 3, Hills 2, Baird, Carpenter, Long, Cascarina
Halftime Score: Shasta 49, American River 42
Updated Records: Shasta 11-3, American River 7-7
