A tumultuous week for Santa Rosa (7-9) ended on a positive note as the Bear Cubs topped American River (6-9), 62-45, to take third place in the Kris Kringle Classic Saturday night.
PF Nic Pederson led the way with 18 pts, 12 rebs and 4 asts as Santa Rosa went on a 12-0 run midway through the first half to increase a narrow lead to a double-digit advantage. Then, when ARC went without a field goal for nearly seven minutes to begin the second half, the Bear Cubs increased their lead to 20 points and cruised from there.
It's been anything but a pleasure cruise for Santa Rosa this week with 5 members of the team being dismissed earlier in the week over an alleged curfew violation. A sixth player quit the team soon after. That left just 6 players on the roster, which was supplemented with 4 additions in time for the tournament, which began Thursday.
The result was a 6-man rotation for the Bear Cubs. In an effort to keep everyone fresh, coach Craig McMillan slowed the pace, bringing to mind recollections of the Mike Fratello-era Cleveland Cavaliers of the mid-90's. And ARC played into that strategy as well, starting four players 6-6 or taller and also favoring a deliberate, half-court pace.
Early on, ARC jumped to a 4-0 lead after a steal & basket by PG Wendale Farrow and a basket by SF Darsenio Carter. And SRJC began the game by making just 1 of its first 11 shots from the floor. But tough defense allowed the Bear Cubs to remain close, trailing by just 2 points at 8-6 more than 8 minutes into the game.
And when the shots started falling for Santa Rosa, they quickly pulled out to a double-digit lead. A basket by Pederson and a three by PG Geoff West put SRJC ahead, 11-10. The lead grew to 10 when Pederson grabbed a rebound and went coast-to-coast for a lay-up, making it 20-10 with just over 6 minutes left in the first half. At the break, SRJC led, 25-14.
In the second half, ARC began by missing its first 4 shots while committing 5 turnovers. The Bear Cubs took advantage, pushing the lead to 40-18 in the first six-and-a-half minutes. ARC never really challenged after that.
In addition to Pederson, who was named to the all-tournament team, SRJC got strong performances from West (11 pts) and Ctr Scott Behrs (10 pts, 7 rebs, 2 blocks). SG John Smith and SF Jared Heuir each added 5 pts and 5 asts. And the sixth member of the rotation, swingman Ian Collins, had 7 pts and 4 rebs. In all, Santa Rosa shot 49% from the floor, allowed ARC to shoot just 32% and committed just 7 turnovers. Mike Fratello would be proud.
For ARC, SF Tim Goode was the only scorer to reach double figures with 11 pts plus 5 rebs. Carter had 8 pts and 7 rebs.
box score
Saturday, December 17, 2005 - 6 pm
Kris Kringle Classic @ Haehl Pavilion, Santa Rosa
Third Place Game
American River Beavers 45:
10-Darsenio Carter, SF - 4/12 fg, 7 reb, 2 ast, 2 blk, 8 pts
23-Joey Shank, SG - 1/4 fg, 5 reb, 2 pts
24-Jacob Kernodie, PF - 0/2 fg, 4 reb, 1 blk, 0 pts
32-Michael Selling, C - 2/8 fg, 1/2 ft, 2 reb, 2 stl, 5 pts
34-Wendale Farrow, PG - 1/5 fg, 2/2 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 4 pts
42-Michael Williams, C - 2/5 fg, 3/4 ft, 4 reb, 2 blk, 7 pts
22-Tim Goode, F - 4/9 fg, 2/2 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 11 pts
3-Matt Paris, F - 0/3 fg, 0 pts
11-George Golden, G - 2/3 fg, 2 ast, 4 pts
44-John Wynne, G - 1/2 ft, 1 ast, 1 pt
13-Justin Leggins, G - 1/2 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 3 pts
4-Eric Hamerton, F - 0 pts
team rebounds: 3
Totals: 17/53 fg (.321), 9/12 ft (.750), 34 reb, 9 ast, 5 blk, 4 stl, 45 pts
3-pt fg (2): Goode, Leggins
Turnovers (11): Carter 3, Selling 3, Shank 2, Kernodie, Farrow, team
Santa Rosa Bear Cubs 62:
10-Geoff West, PG - 3/7 fg, 3/4 ft, 3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 11 pts
21-John Smith, SG - 2/5 fg, 1/2 ft, 1 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 5 pts
25-Jared Heuir, SF - 2/10 fg, 2 reb, 5 ast, 5 pts
32-Nic Pederson, PF - 8/11 fg, 12 reb, 4 ast, 1 blk, 18 pts
35-Scott Behrs, C - 5/9 fg, 7 reb, 2 blk, 10 pts
23-Ian Collins, G - 3/8 fg, 4 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk, 7 pts
24-Joseph Noel, F - 1 ast, 0 pts
44-Joe Jones, C - 3/3 fg, 6 pts
22-Ryan Costa, G - 0 pts
34-Andrew Cangson, F - 0 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 26/53 fg (.491), 4/6 ft (.667), 31 reb, 19 ast, 5 blk, 2 stl, 45 pts
3-pt fg (6): West 2, Pederson 2, Heuir, Collins
Turnovers (7): West 2, Heuir 2, Pederson, Behrs, Collins
Halftime Score: Santa Rosa 25, American River 14
Updated Records: Santa Rosa 7-9, American River 6-9
