The Diablo Valley Shootout took place July 25th & 26th, with teams from all over Northern California and beyond on hand. I was only able to attend the shootout on Saturday, but saw 10 games featuring 18 teams, all from Northern California. There were some excellent games, top players and a bit of intrigue in an atmosphere that was decidedly more mellow than the Southern California events.
Here is a game-by-game summary of the event. Box scores and an event summary have also been posted - just click on the links below.
Skyline 57, Reedley 52:
The excellent Skyline backcourt of SG Shawn Echols and PG Ronney Freeman combined for 36 points, leading Skyline to a narrow win in the day’s first game.
Echols had 22 pts, 4 rebs, 2 asts and 3 steals to lead Skyline, which led the entire second half but could never pull away from a solid Reedley squad. Ronney Freeman added 14 pts, including a pair of threes, for the Trojans. Ctr Matt Fochtman added 9 pts and 8 rebs in the victory.
Skyline led nearly all the way, jumping out to an 8-2 lead early on and leading by 3 at 21-18 at halftime. Skyline led by 10 early in the second half, but Reedley rallied to tie the game at 52 before Skyline pulled away for the win on four points by Echols and one by Fochtman.
Reedley had incredible balance, with all eleven players scoring but nobody scoring more than 7 points or taking more than 7 shots. SG Nelson Beasley made 3 of 4 shots from the floor, including a three, to score 7 pts. PG Marquel Hoskins was one of three players to score 6 pts, and also had 9 rebs, 2 asts and 3 steals. Ctr Richard Garcia had 5 pts and 5 blocked shots.
Columbia 47, Monterey Peninsula 41
SG Desi Barmore had 13 pts and PG Rev Baca added 9 pts and 5 asts as Columbia edged Monterey Peninsula by six points in the day’s second game.
Columbia began the game on a 4-0 spurt and led all the way, holding a 25-22 edge at halftime and never surrendering the lead. But MPC rallied to within two points late at 43-41 after a 3-pointer by PG Jermaine Carter before a basket by Ctr Travis Vanderwaal and a free throw by SF Brandon Brockmire sealed the win for Columbia.
Brockmire had 8 pts for the winners, SF Kyle Mitchell had 7 and Vanderwaal had 4 pts and 8 rebs. Also notable was PF Jimmy Dockett, who broke Greg Oden’s unofficial world record of 10 personal fouls (set in last year’s Las Vegas Summer League) with 11.
For MPC, Carter had 9 pts and 3 asts, and Ctr Denarrio Tatmon also added 9 pts.
*Skyline 67, Fresno 66:
SF Rodney Freeman drained a 3-pointer from the left corner to give Skyline a one-point win over Fresno, delivering one of the most stunning upsets of the entire summer over a team that had regularly thrashed each of its opponents both here at DVC and at the 3 Stripes JC Shootout two weeks earlier at USC.
At least that’s what the scoreboard said. That’s where the asterisk comes in. For the apparent final score was largely a product of the maneuverings of Fresno head coach Ed Madec, all of which helped the other team.
Fresno began the game on a 24-8 spurt, and though Skyline fought back to within 7 points late in the first half, the Rams had a double-digit lead at 42-30 at halftime. That’s when Madec, who left his assistants to actually coach the game, came over and stood behind the bench and scorer’s table.
Seeking a closer game, Madec requested the scorer ignore some Fresno baskets in the second half and/or award extra points to Skyline. So as the second half progressed, the scoreboard showed Skyline staying close to the Rams. With two minutes left and the scoreboard showing Fresno holding a 60-50 lead (the “real” score was 69-49), Madec directed his coaches to call a timeout and gathered his team around.
With so little time left, the game still wasn’t really that close. So with the scoreboard manipulation strategy not working as well as desired, Madec summoned the ghost of Jack Molinas. (Molinas is one of the most infamous figures of early NBA & NCAA basketball history, involved in point-shaving scandals at both levels – you can read Charley Rosen’s excellent biography “Wizard of Odds” for more on him).
When play resumed, Fresno inbounded the ball under its own basket. Three straight times, PG Travis Ferrell threw the ball to an open spot, and three straight times a Skyline player “intercepted” the ball and scored on an uncontested lay-up. That made it 60-56. Madec was now happy, noting “we need a close game – we haven’t been challenged yet.”
As the clock wound down to zero, Fresno had a 63-58 lead following a 3-pointer by PG Sultan Toles-Bey at the buzzer.
In the extra time (the DVC Shootout uses a format in which the game continues to a target score – in this case the target was 67 - after the clock runs out) SF Aaron Hill was fouled. Per the rules, he was awarded one point on the foul, and shot the free throw for the second point. At the urging of the Fresno bench, he tried to miss, but the shot rattled in anyway. Hill sheepishly looked to the sidelines as the scoreboard now read 65-58.
A basket by Skyline made it 65-60, but then Fresno Ctr Brent Grice was fouled. Again, the automatic point was awarded, making it 66-60. A free throw would now win the game for the Rams. And again, the Fresno bench urged a miss to prolong the game. A high-velocity brick by Grice off the side of the rim accomplished that task, much to the delight of Madec and his staff.
But then Skyline made things interesting. A basket by PG Ronney Freeman made it 66-62. Then SG Shawn Echols stole the ball at midcourt (it looked legitimate) and went in for a lay-up to make it 66-64. Now a 3-pointer by Skyline – or a single point by Fresno – would win the game.
Fresno got the ball to SG Brandon Johnson, who drove the left baseline to attempt what would be a game-winning lay-up. But a Skyline player was waiting just outside the lane, and drew the charging foul on Johnson. A turnover by Skyline gave Fresno another chance to win, but Hill missed a shot, and Ctr Matt Fochtman grabbed the rebound for the Trojans.
The Fresno bench finally had their close finish. As the coaches urged “no threes!”, Echols dribbled the ball near the top of the key. Suddenly, he eluded his defender. As the Fresno staff said “oh no”, the final sequence unfolded.
As Echols moved past his man, a Fresno defender moved over to help. That left Ronney Freeman open, and Echols gave him the ball. But then a Fresno defender moved over to help on him, leaving Rodney Freeman alone in the corner. Just as the Fresno staff had anticipated, that bit of penetration by Echols had set things in motion. Ronney Freeman passed the ball to the wide-open Rodney Freeman, who drained the game-winning 3-pointer to give Skyline the 67-66 win.
The Trojans were apparently unaware of all the chicanery, and none of this saga is meant to take anything away from their performance. When the game was on the line, Skyline executed its plays, made its shots and did what was needed to come away with the victory. And aside from the three giveaway turnovers and the intentionally missed free throw, Fresno kept playing hard throughout the game.
Rodney Freeman led the way with a game-high 17 pts, including the game-winning shot. Echols had 12 pts, 4 asts and 6 steals (none of which came during the Molinas era). And Ronney Freeman had 11 pts and 4 asts, one of which came on the winning basket.
For Fresno, Toles-Bey led the way with 14 pts, 7 asts and 3 steals. Grice just missed a double-double with 14 pts and 9 rebs. PG Russ Gregory added 11 pts, including 3 threes, and Johnson had 10.
And even after all the maneuvering, the actual final score was Fresno 74, Skyline 66.
But as a former resident of both San Francisco and Marin County, I believe it’s important for each of us to choose his or her own reality!
Ohlone 65, American River 53:
Ohlone’s frontline combination of PF James Hancock and Ctr Alpha N’Diaye both scored in double figures, and the Renegades shot 49% from the floor with only 7 turnovers to post a 12-point win over American.River.
Hancock had 11 pts, while N’Diaye had 10 pts and 6 rebs to lead the way for Ohlone. SG Quaran Johnson came off the bench to score 10 pts. PF Leon Hart came off the bench to add 8 pts, 6 rebs and 2 steals.
Ohlone went on a 9-0 spurt to take a 23-11 lead, breaking open a close game, and led handily the rest of the way. At the half it was 38-28 and American River was never able to threaten in the second half.
For ARC, SG Sam Williams had a game-high 12 pts while dishing out 3 asts. SF Phil Johnson added 11 pts, 4 rebs, 2 blocks and 2 steals. Ctr Kevin Grassle had 7 pts and a game-high 7 rebs.
Las Positas 61, DeAnza 38:
Las Positas outscored DeAnza 32-16 in the second half to pull away and post a resounding 23-point win in the afternoon’s next game.
All eleven players for Las Positas scored, with PF Troy Lambert leading the way, just missing a double-double with 11 pts, 9 rebs and 3 blocks. SF Willie Richardson had 9 pts and 3 blocked shots, and SG Marc Taylor had 9 pts plus 3 asts and 2 steals.
DeAnza, which trailed by just 7 at the half, 29-22, finished shooting just 25% from the floor for the game and only 21.5% in the second half. PF Adam Close led the Dons with 9 pts plus 3 rebs, 2 asts and 2 blocks. Ctr Kris Gingrich added 8 pts, and PG Travonne Edwards had 4 pts plus a game-high 4 asts.
San Jose 72, American River 45:
San Jose shot 54% from the floor with just 9 turnovers while holding ARC to just 34% and raced to a most impressive 72-45 win in the day’s sixth game.
Ten different players scored for the Jaguars, led by SF B.J. Lassiter, who had 12 pts and 4 asts. SF Derek Jensen had 10 pts. SG Omar Bourgaub, Ctr Isaiah James, PF Brandon Criss and PF Steveone Jones each had 8 pts; James also pulled down a team-high 6 rebs.
SJCC began the game on a 7-2 spurt, built a 10-point lead at 20-10 and led 44-25 at the half. A 3-pointer by Jensen pushed the lead beyond the twenty-point mark at 47-25, and from there the rout was on.
For ARC, PF A.J. Carson led the way with 9 pts and 8 rebs, just missing the double-double. Three players – SG Sam Williams, SF Phil Johnson and SF Terome Landers - each had 6 pts.
Modesto 70, Las Positas 67:
SF Andre Mattson came off the bench to score a best-of-the-day 25 pts, including 5 threes, and SF Sam Yeager added 21 pts as Modesto edged Las Positas in perhaps the best game of the day.
Modesto overcame a 10-point first-half deficit, and still trailed by 6 at halftime before taking its first lead of the game after beginning the second half on a 10-2 spurt to go ahead, 41-39.
As the clock went to zero, Modesto led, 66-63. Then Mattson’s fifth 3-pointer of the game in extra time brought the Pirates to within a point of victory. Moments later, Las Positas Ctr Troy Lambert missed a shot and on the rebound, SG Efrem Harris was fouled going for the ball by LPC PG Jeff Ford. The automatic point clinched the win for Modesto.
Mattson made 7 of 11 shots from the floor, and all three of his free throw attempts, and also grabbed a pair of steals for the victors. Yeager was 9-for-15 from the floor and also added 3 assists and 3 steals. Harris had 9 pts and Ctr Geoffrey Harrison added 7 pts and a team-high 7 rebs.
Lambert posted a double-double for Las Positas, finishing with 16 pts and 10 rebs. Ctr D’Juan Estis added 8 pts and a game-high 12 rebs. SG Marc Taylor chipped in with 9 pts on 4-of-6 from the floor. Ford finished with 6 pts and a game-high 4 asts.
Diablo Valley 54, Yuba 50:
In the day’s marquee matchup, host Diablo Valley got a double-double from PF Anthony Turner and 13 pts from Ctr Jordan Fillmore to edge Yuba, 54-50.
DVC began the game well, building an 18-7 lead in the early going. But around then Yuba SF Tristan Wilson entered the game, and by halftime the 49ers had cut the margin to 7 at 27-20. Then Yuba continued to chip away at the lead, drawing to within a single point at 33-32 midway through the second half. DVC pulled away again to lead by 7 at 41-34, but Yuba again rallied, tying the game at 48 with 30 seconds left in regulation time.
Turner drew a foul, received the automatic point and made a free throw with no time left to make it 50-48 entering extra time. Then SG Brandon May drew a foul and made a free throw for DVC to make it 52-48. Wilson scored on a 1-hander to bring Yuba within two points at 52-50, but moments later SF Dan Daviess scored on a lay-up to clinch the win for DVC.
Turner posted game-high totals of 19 pts and 10 rebs for the winners for his double-double. Fillmore was also impressive, finishing with 13 pts, 6 rebs, 3 blocks and 4 assists, one of which came on Daviess’ winning basket. May came off the bench to score 10 pts for the Vikings.
For Yuba, Wilson led the way as usual, scoring 18 pts and adding 3 rebs and 2 steals. SG Shawn Thomas had 12 pts and PF Gary Smith flirted with a double-double before settling for 9 pts and 8 rebs. PG Mayse Walker had 4 pts and a team-high 3 asts.
Sierra 71, Marin 27:
Sierra jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the opening minutes, led by 30 at halftime and began the second half on a 13-0 run in a complete drubbing of an overmatched Marin squad in the day’s most lopsided game.
This one was never in doubt. Sierra led, 36-9, at one point and pushed the lead beyond 40 points in the first few minutes of the second half.
Sierra, which shot 50% from the floor with just 8 turnovers, was led by SF Marcel Smith, who made 9 of 11 shots from the floor for a game-high 21 pts. Ctr Ryan Parker had 12 pts and Ctr Rhett Richardson added 11 pts.
For Marin, SG Mark Anthony Robinson led the way with 10 pts, including a pair of threes. But Marin shot just 26% from the floor with 22 turnovers for the game.
Santa Rosa 51, Sacramento 37:
In the final game of the day, Santa Rosa had three players score in double figures and led by double figures most of the way in a defensive battle that saw the Bear Cubs post a 14-point victory.
Santa Rosa began the game on a 17-6 run, led by 14 at halftime and was never threatened in the second half.
Despite starting three players shorter than six feet tall, SRJC outrebounded Sacramento City, 33-27, for the game. 5-11 SG Drew Gipson posted game-high totals of 14 pts and 7 rebs for the winners, while 5-11 SF Drew Freelander and Ctr Matt Cousins each had 11 pts. 5-7 PG Anthony Freitas had 4 pts and a game-high 5 asts for Santa Rosa.
For Sac City, SF Miles McAlister came off the bench to score 11 pts, including 3 threes, on 4-of-6 from the floor. SF Deon Clay added 6 pts and 5 rebs.
What's Available
Event Overview
Event Summary
Skyline 57, Reedley 52
Columbia 47, Monterey Peninsula 41
*Skyline 67, Fresno 66
Ohlone 65, American River 53
Las Positas 61, DeAnza 38
San Jose 72, American River 45
Modesto 70, Las Positas 65
Diablo Valley 54, Yuba 50
Sierra 71, Marin 27
Santa Rosa 51, Sacramento 37
