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Last Updated: Feb 18th, 2009 - 12:23:13 |
"Big play” Clae Baker needs a new nickname. “The Closer” should work just fine.
Baker, who will be a closing pitcher on the College of the Redwoods baseball team when basketball season's done, pulled off a couple big plays in the final moments of the game Saturday to help the Corsairs edge Siskiyous 67-66 in overtime.
The win improved CR's record to 13-9 overall and 2-3 in the Golden Valley Conference, while Siskiyous fell to 18-10, 2-3.
”This was one team that I wasn't sure if we could contain and hold in the 60s,” CR head coach Rich Mendoza said. “I'm happy we were able to defend.
”We needed this one no matter what . We're still at a point where we control our own destiny.”
CR's Tim Pratt, who had a team-high 25 points scored the eventual game-winner on a free throw with 1:19 left in overtime. In the waning seconds, however, with the game still very much in the balance, Baker came in to put it away.
Siskiyous was the more athletic team, and it tried to take advantage of its speed and playmaking ability thoughout the game, especially when the outcome was on the line. The Eagles didn't hit a 3 all night and they weren't about to go for one on the final possession.
With under 10 seconds to go, Eagles point guard Drew Herrera drove=2 0the lane only to run into Baker, who stepped over from the block and cut off his path to the hoop. Herrera knocked him down and was whistled for a charge, which gave the ball back to CR with 5.9 seconds left.
”They knew not to foul and they knew a charge could win the game,” Mendoza said of his players.
Baker wasn't done though. On the in-bounds pass, he tried to heave it to Pratt, who was streaking the length of the court, only to have the pass intercepted by Siskiyous' best player, Alden Gibbs.
Gibbs tried to dribble up court, but couldn't get past the 6-foot-6 Pratt, so he tried to throw the ball to a teammate for a final shot near the sideline. Baker, however, jumped and pulled down the desperation throw and held the ball as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
”I heard Tim was a heckuva tight end, and Clae's a pitcher,” Mendoza said. “He threw a curve when we wanted a fast ball. It was a bad pass, but Tim made a great play to make sure he touched the ball and time started.”
Redwoods, who was without starter Ren Bettendorf, got 17 points from guard Dom Brinson. Baker had eight points and Eli Graham had 7.
Pratt scored five of CR's final seven points in regulation, including a fee throw with 16.7 seconds left that tied the game at 61.
Redwoods will play Shasta in Redding on Wednesday before hosting GVC leader Feather River on Saturday at 4 p.m.
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