SF Terrance Johns scored 38 pts and #1-ranked Bakersfield (28-2, 9-1) reached triple digits for the 16th time this season in a 100-82 win over host LA Valley (10-18, 3-7) Saturday evening. Johns, who scored 40 points in Bakersfield’s win Wednesday vs. Santa Monica, also grabbed a team-high 9 rebs as the Renegades stayed a game behind Canyons in the WSC-South race heading into their showdown this Wednesday.
This one was close most of the way, with Bakersfield holding just a 5-point lead at 79-74 before pulling away late. And Valley led by as many as 9 points in the first half before the teams went into halftime tied at 47.
Johns wasted little time getting into the scoring column, draining a three just 8 seconds into the game. But Valley PF Gemel Coleman answered back with a traditional 3-point play to tie the score. Neither team led by more than 2 points after that until Bakersfield went ahead, 15-11, after a three by PG Johnny Machado and led 17-15 until PG Michael Nmvoya scored a 3-point basket and then a traditional 3-point play to put the Monarchs up, 19-17. Then a three by SG Vernon Alexander and another basket by Coleman made it 24-17. And when Bakersfield Ctr Lawrence Billings drew a technical foul protesting a 3-second call, Coleman went to the line and made both free throws to make it 26-17.
But Bakersfield rallied, tying the game at 30 on a basket by Johns with just over 7 minutes left in the half. The lead went back and forth the rest of the half with Valley holding a 47-44 lead until PF Steve Alford scored a FG+FT 3-point play for Bakersfield with 12 seconds left to tie the game 47-47 at the half.
When the second half began, Alford drained a quick three to put Bakersfield ahead, but again Valley’s Coleman again answered back, this time with a 3-point basket to tie the game. And Valley went back in front moments later on a pair of Coleman free throws. The Monarchs pushed the lead to 4 at 60-56 after a third-chance putback basket by Coleman. Bakersfield raced back to take a 62-60 lead after a basket by Ctr Demetrius Williamson, but Valley went back in front after a three by SG Gustavo Valle.
But that would be Valley’s last lead of the night. Bakersfield went back in front on a basket by SG Andrew Ready, and pushed the lead to 67-63 after a three by Machado. Then a steal by SF Jimmy Scroggins led to a basket by Alford to make it 69-63. The lead reached 12 at 79-67 after a 3-point play by Ready on which Valley Ctr Demetrius Malone fouled out.
Valley rallied one last time, scoring the next 7 points to cut the lead to 79-74, but then Bakersfield pulled away for good. A free throw by Williamson made it an 11-point game at 87-76. Then Johns knocked down a three, and then he scored again to make it 92-76 with 4:04 left, putting the game into the win column for the Renegades.
For Bakersfield, Johns was of course the star but he also got some strong support. Alford had 21 pts, including 3 threes, and 7 rebs. And Ready was outstanding with 15 pts and a game-high 11 asts. Machado had a solid game with 11 pts, including 3 threes, plus 4 asts and 4 steals.
For Valley, Coleman led the way with 30 pts and 15 rebs. Ctr Aaron Clarke also had a double-double with 15 pts and 11 rebs. But they were the only Monarchs to reach double figures, and Valley was hurt by having just 8 players available, as evidenced by Bakersfield’s scoring 21 of the game’s last 29 points.
With the win, Bakersfield stays a game behind first-place Canyons, whom they will host next Wednesday. In those teams’ first meeting, Bakersfield nearly overcame a 13-point lead in the final two minutes, closing the gap to 2 points before falling, 98-94. Game time Wednesday is 5:30 pm.
Box score
Saturday, February 10, 2007 – 5:30 pm
at the Monarch Sports Pavilion, LA Valley College, Valley Glen
WSC-South
Bakersfield Renegades 100:
3-Johnny Machado, PG – 4/6 fg, 3 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl, 11 pts
21-Andrew Ready, SG – 4/13 fg, 6/9 ft, 4 reb, 11 ast, 2 blk, 2 stl, 1 pf, 15 pts
22-Terrence Johns, SF – 14/21 fg, 5/6 ft, 9 reb, 2 stl, 4 pf, 38 pts
34-Steve Alford, PF – 8/15 fg, 2/3 ft, 7 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 21 pts
55-Aaron Perez, C – 0/1 fg, 1/2 ft, 1 reb, 1 blk, 1 stl, 4 pf, 1 pt
23-Jimmy Scroggins, F – 2/4 fg, 2 reb, 1 stl, 4 pf, 4 pts
42-Demetrius Williamson, C – 2/5 fg, 3/8 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 2 pf, 7 pts
50-Reggie Lassiter, G – 1/5 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 3 pts
11-Andrew Rhoads, F – 0/2 fg, 0/2 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 0 pts
33-Daniel Williams, F – 0/2 fg, 2 reb, 1 ast, 1 pf, 0 pts
44-Lawrence Billings, C – 2 blk, 3 pf, 0 pts
30-Justin Calhoun, G – 0/1 fg, 2 reb, 0 pts
40-Jeff Grace, C – 2 reb, 0 pts
15-Kyle Watkins, G – 1 pf, 0 pts
team rebounds: 5
Totals: 35/75 fg (.467), 17/30 ft (.567), 44 reb, 23 ast, 7 blk, 13 stl, 22 pf, 100 pts
3-pt fg (13): Johns 5, Machado 3, Alford 3, Ready, Lassiter
Technical Foul: Billings
Fouled Out: Scroggins 1:59 left
Turnovers (17): Lassiter 3, Ready 2, Alford 2, Perez 2, Scroggins 2, Machado, Johns, Williamson, Billings, Calhoun, team
LA Valley Monarchs 82:
12-Gus Valle, SG – 3/11 fg, 2 ast, 1 stl, 3 pf, 9 pts
21-Ron Holden, SF – 3/11 fg, 1/3 ft, 4 reb, 5 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 3 pf, 7 pts
22-Michael Nmvoya, PG – 3/10 fg, 2/3 ft, 2 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 3 pf, 9 pts
23-Gemel Coleman, PF – 10/21 fg, 9/12 ft, 15 reb, 1 ast, 4 pf, 30 pts
32-Aaron Clarke, C – 5/11 fg, 5/6 ft, 11 reb, 2 ast, 1 pf, 15 pts
24-Vernon Alexander, G – 3/6 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 1 pf, 8 pts
35-Demitrius Malone, C – 2/4 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 5 pf, 4 pts
10-Shon Williams, G – 0/1 fg, 1 ast, 2 pf, 0 pts
31-Grikor Odjakhiam, F – 1 ast, 0 pts
team rebounds: 11
Totals: 29/75 fg (.387), 17/24 ft (.708), 49 reb, 19 ast, 1 blk, 6 stl, 22 pf, 82 pts
3-pt fg (7): Valle 3, Alexander 2, Nmvoya, Coleman
Fouled Out: Malone 8:33 left
Turnovers (24): Coleman 8, Nmvoya 5, Valle 4, Clarke 4, Williams 2, Alexander
Halftime Score: Tied at 47
Updated Records: Bakersfield (#1-South, t-#1-Calif) 28-2, 9-1 in WSC-South; LA Valley 10-18, 3-7 in WSC-South
