Despite entering the game with a glittering 13-2 record and a #3 (North) ranking, and beginning the game with an 18-1 run, CC San Francisco didn't secure the win vs. upstart Butte (9-6) until a last-second three-point attempt that would have won the game for the Roadrunners bounced off the rim as the final horn sounded.
But when the dust settled, CCSF had the win and the championship of the Delta Holiday Tournament. PF Dave McSwain led the Rams with 23 pts and 12 rebs in the final and was awarded Most Valuable Player honors.
CCSF began the game in fine fashion, taking a 14-0 lead as Butte went 0-for-6 from the floor and committed 6 turnovers early on. Finally, PF Gene Rivera made a free throw, but CCSF Ctr Maurice Purify and McSwain each scored again before Butte finally managed a field goal on a baseline drive by SF Tim Baker with 13:13 left in the half.
Once Butte got on the board, however, they steadily closed the gap, drawing to within 5 points at the half. And when the second half began, PG Brian Smith drained a pair of threes in the opening minute to put the Roadrunners ahead, 38-37.
The rest of the half saw the game remain close, and the lead changed hands multiple times. With 4:52 left, McSwain made a pair of free throws to put CCSF ahead, 52-51. And though it was far from evident at the time, CCSF ended up holding the lead for the rest of the game.
As the clock wound down, CCSF held a slim 2-point lead at 68-66 after McSwain missed the front end of a 1-and-1 opportunity that could have made it a 2-score game with 29 seconds left. Butte brought the ball up the court and ran a play. But PG Eric Turner astutely committed a foul with 6 seconds left; CCSF had the foul to give, making Butte inbound the ball and set up one final play with just a few seconds left.
And the strategy worked well, though the ball went to a good shooter in Butte's Kenneth Allison. Just before the buzzer sounded, Allison released a contested 3-point attempt that could have won the game. But the ball bounced off the side of the rim, allowing CCSF to escape with the win.
Joining McSwain on the all-tournament team were Centers Terrell Anderson (17 pts, 8 rebs) and Purify (12 pts, 6 rebs). Turner added 6 pts, 7 rebs and 5 asts.
For Butte, Baker had 18 pts and 4 asts while Smith had 17 pts; each was named to the all-tournament team. Despite the last-second miss, Allison had a strong game with 13 pts, 6 rebs, 3 asts and 3 steals. Rivera added 9 pts, 4 rebs, 5 asts and 4 steals.
box score
Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 4 pm
Delta Holiday Classic @ Blanchard Gym, Stockton
Championship Game
Butte Roadrunners 66:
11-Billy Hansen, SG - 0/1 fg, 0 pts
12-Brian Smith, PG - 5/14 fg, 4/4 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 17 pts
20-Tim Baker, SF - 9/12 fg, 4 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 18 pts
31-Gene Rivera, PF - 3/9 fg, 3/9 ft, 4 reb, 5 ast, 2 blk, 4 stl, 9 pts
54-Andrew Anstead, C - 1 blk, 0 pts
55-Chris Reid, C - 0 pts
10-Ricky Graham, G - 1/6 fg, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 pts
33-Kenneth Allison, F - 6/11 fg, 6 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk, 3 stl, 13 pts
40-Nick Lonnegren, F - 0/1 fg, 2 ast, 0 pts
24-Khaleef Williams, G - 3/5 fg, 0/1 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 7 pts
team rebounds: 4
Totals: 27/59 fg (.458), 7/14 ft (.500), 29 reb, 20 ast, 4 blk, 13 stl, 66 pts
3-pt fg (5): Smith 3, Allison, Williams
Turnovers (18): Baker 6, Smith 5, Rivera 2, Allison 2, Hansen, Graham, Williams
City College of San Francisco Rams 68:
3-Eric Turner, PG - 2/9 fg, 2/2 ft, 7 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 6 pts
11-Marcio Lassiter, SG - 1/5 fg, 1/2 ft, 1 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 pt
22-Terrell Anderson, C - 6/9 fg, 3/5 ft, 8 reb, 1 stl, 17 pts
33-Ron Manigault, SF - 1/4 fg, 1/1 ft, 6 reb, 1 ast, 3 pts
45-Dave McSwain, PF - 7/15 fg, 8/10 ft, 12 reb, 3 blk, 1 stl, 23 pts
5-Jordan Davis, G - 1/1 fg, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 pts
23-Justin Holmes, F - 0/6 fg, 2/2 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 2 pts
34-Patrick Dreith, F - 0/2 fg, 2 reb, 0 pts
44-Maurice Purify, C - 6/9 fg, 0/2 ft, 6 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 12 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 24/60 fg (.400), 17/24 ft (.708), 47 reb, 12 ast, 3 blk, 6 stl, 68 pts
3-pt fg (3): Anderson 2, McSwain
Technical Foul: McSwain
Turnovers (22): Manigault 5, Turner 3, Lassiter 3, Anderson 3, McSwain 3, Davis 2, Dreith 2, Purify
Halftime Score: CCSF 37, Butte 32
Updated Records: CCSF 14-2, Butte 9-6
