Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008

CBBN boys: Pasco shoots down first-place Sunnyside

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

PASCO -- Rolling up the offensive numbers hasn't been a problem for the Pasco boys this season.

The Bulldogs entered Friday night leading all CBBN teams at 73.9 points a game.

The biggest concern for the Bulldogs on Friday night was defending their home court against Columbia Division leader Sunnyside.

But thanks to strong rebounding and an effective zone defense, Pasco held court against the Grizzlies with a 93-70 win, recording its highest scoring output of the season.

The Bulldogs (6-5, 4-1 Columbia) moved into a three-way tie with Sunnyside (6-4, 4-1) and Wenatchee (5-5, 3-0) for first place.

The Panthers play host to Pasco today.

"I think we came out with great energy on both sides of the ball," said Bulldogs coach Chad Herron. "We knew Sunnyside was a very patient team on offense, and they also play good team defense. They were going to make us work for every shot we got."

Andre Griffin and Robert Montano combined for 43 points, hitting 17 of 27 shots from the field to help Pasco hand the Grizzlies their first division loss of the year. Griffin hit 5-of-8 from 3-point range to lead the Bulldogs with 23 points, tying his season high. Montano connected on just one of his first five shots in the first half, then exploded for 16 of his 20 points in the third quarter.

"We have this shell drill (a 4-on-4 offensive drill) in practice, and me and Rob usually find each other," said Griffin, who scored 15 points in the second quarter.

Montano wasn't the only player to get hot in the third quarter, however. Alfredo De La Barrera, Sunnyside's leading scorer, also tied his season high with 24 points.

De La Barrera, a 6-foot-2 junior, was held to just five points in the first half but matched Montano nearly point for point in the third quarter, scoring 11 during a 13-6 Grizzlies' run that cut Pasco's lead to 53-45 with just under four minutes left in the quarter. He finished the frame with 15 points.

"(Barrera) does a good job getting in there to post up, and we did a good job getting the ball to him," said Sunnyside coach Ron Rowe. "When we made that run to cut it to eight, they came back and knocked down six or eight in a row. It was tough for us to overcome."

The Bulldogs also did a good job keeping the boards clean, outrebounding the Grizzlies 34-23 -- 16-4 in the second quarter. Jeremie Streicher led Pasco with 11 rebounds and added 16 points for good measure.

"Lately we've been coming together," Herron said. "They enjoy playing together and they're buying into our defensive concept. They're starting to understand there is another side of the game.

"Offense will get you to the playoffs, but defense will take you that much further."

Anthony Scales added 11 points for the Bulldogs, who hit 10 of 12 shots in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Overall, Pasco shot 54 percent (38-for-70) compared to 47 percent (26-for-55) for Sunnyside.

SUNNYSIDE (70)

Abbott 5, Manzo 8, Esqueda 8, Lejia 9, Vargas, Sanchez 8, Steckler 3, Daley, Johnson 2, Graff 2, Alfredo De La Barrera 24. Totals 26-55 13-28 70.

PASCO (93)

Scales 11, Uvay 4, Andre Griffin 23, Robert Montano 20, Perez 2, Negron 6, Reid 2, Streicher 16, Briggs 2, Villafan 2, Elizondo 2, LeMieux 3. Totals 38-70 6-11 70 93.

Sunnyside 17 15 25 13 -- 70

Pasco 20 27 23 23 -- 93

Highlights -- Streicher 11 rebs; Griffin 6 assists; Montano 5 assists, 2 steals.

Moses Lake 78, Southridge 53

MOSES LAKE -- Josh Loera went 8-for-12 from the 3-point range en route to a game-high 34 points as Moses Lake built a 32-19 halftime lead in a CBBN Columbia win over Southridge, which is winless in league play.

SOUTHRIDGE (53)

McCullom 6, M. Mendenhall 10, Michelson 5, McClintock, Whitney 4, A. Mendenhall 13, Stollie 2, Homme 6, Munns 7 Totals 20-55 8-13 53.

MOSES LAKE (78)

Josh Loera 34, Martinez 2, Roylance 8, Coriell 2, Wilks 4, Bergeson 9, Mi. Franz, Hudson 9, Daniel-Brown 10, Ma. Franz. Totals 32-55 5-9 78.

Southridge 11 8 23 11 -- 53

Moses Lake 17 15 26 20 -- 78

Highlights -- Isac Bergeson 6 rbs, 7 assists; Casey Hudson 4 assists; Loera 4 assits; Blake Roylance 4 assists; Jordan Wilks 3 stls; A. Mendenhall 9 rbs

Kamiakin 53, Hanford 49

Riley Hayfield scored a game-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead Kamiakin to a CBBN Cascade Division road victory over Hanford.

Pete Zachara led the Falcons with 14 points.

KAMIAKIN (53)

Riley Hayfield 17, Holle 2, Rojas 4, Fletcher 7, Rada 14, Anderson 9, En'Wezoh Totals 16-48 12-15 53.

HANFORD (49)

Pete Zachara 14, K. Wagar 9, Hodgson 8, Friesz 6, Bland 2, Haynes 8, Rueter 2, C. Wagar. Totals 18-55 9-15 49.

Kamiakin 8 13 17 15 -- 53

Hanford 16 9 15 9 -- 49

Highlights -- Hayfield 5 3pts; Rojas 10 rebs.

Davis 64, Kennewick 56 (OT)

YAKIMA -- Devontae Luckett's layup at the buzzer forced overtime and completed Davis' rally from a 40-33 deficit, and the Pirates outscored Kennewick 16-8 in the extra period to deny the Lions their first win of the season in CBBN Columbia play.

Kor Ter and Osvaldo Uvay scored 13 points apiece for Kennewick.

KENNEWICK (56)

Kor Ter 13, Osvaldo Uvay 13, Westermeyer 9, Karr 5, Morfin 3, Ross 2, Sharp 11, Thomas, Loftus.

DAVIS (64)

Les Henderson 17, Mendoza 6, Cuevas 3, Lopez 9, J.Marquis 12, Hata 4, Rainey, Minor, Luckett 13.

Kennewick 16 9 15 8 8 -- 56

Davis 13 13 7 15 16 -- 64