|
|
|
Last Updated: Dec 12th, 2007 - 14:11:56 |
Tom Higgins scored 15 second-half points to help lead the College of the Redwoods men's basketball team to a 69-66 victory over the visiting Santa Rosa Junior College on Tuesday.
The win improved CR's record to 2-3 after Redwoods dropped its final two games at the Las Positas tournament over the weekend.
”This is big for our confidence,” said CR head coach Skip Gleason. “We knew we could play with anyone in the state, but before we were just playing with teams and not making the plays down the stretch to win. Tonight we made the plays.”
And it took every one of those clutch plays to eke out this win over the perennial powerhouse SRJC, especially when you consider that CR accomplished the feat without the services of its primary offensive weapon, Kenneth Goodwin.
After making just enough plays and coming up with enough timely defensive stops to hang around, Redwoods suddenly assumed the role of the aggressor. Higgins nailed a pair of 3s on CR's first two second-half possessions to add to the momentum Colt Mathews -- who led the Corsairs with 19 points -- had created by draining a triple as the buzzer sounded in the first half.
But Santa Rosa answered with an 11-4 run.
With 7:45 remaining in the game, CR's Anthony Ross finally capped the Corsairs' arduous climb back to even, sticking a 3 to tie the game at 56.
Moments later Higgins jumped in the passing lane and took it the other way for the lay-in before dialing in from way downtown on a pick on CR's next possession to give Redwoods its biggest lead of the evening at 64-60 with under two minutes to play.
From there it came down to two things: making free throws and taking care of the ball, both of which point guard Darren Nye, who played 40 minutes of near flawless basketball, excelled at.
”He has ice water in his veins,” said Gleason of his point guard. “He's cool and composed and he wants the ball.”
Nye calmly knocked down a pair of free throws to give CR a 66-62 lead before Santa Rosa's Jared Heuir, who was killing CR from beyond the arc in the first half, hit a pair of his own.
With CR leading 66-64 Nye unexpectedly missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Mathews came up with the biggest board of the night, skying in from behind to seemingly snatch any chance Santa Rosa had of a comeback.
The Bear Cubs would get a desperation three-point attempt from John Smith, who scored 20 points on the night, as time expired but to no avail.
”(Santa Rosa) is a quality program, top 10 in the north and top 20 in the state,” said Gleason. “It's a good win for us, it's the first time we've beat a team like that in my time here.”
© Copyright College of the Redwoods
Top of Page
|
|
|
Redwoods shows no mercy on Mendo
If one aspect of the team isn't functioning very well another has to compensate. Fortunately for the College of the Redwoods men's basketball team Tuesday night, while they had difficulties offensively, their defense paved the way for a 74-44 victory over Mendocino College. |
CR to Open with #13 Modesto at Napa Tournament
College of the Redwoods will open against the North's #13 team Modesto College in the first round of the Wine Country Classic in Napa. |
|