Saddleback vs Riverside - CCCAA State Final - "Live" Game Blog

This blog was being typed live during the game. The wireless internet did not stretch all the way to the playing floor, so the blog could not be updated simultaneously. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Riverside is the 2009 CCCAA State Basketball Champions. Saddleback is awarded with a State Runner-Up trophy. Something to be proud about, but for now the Gauchos will stay extremely disappointed.

FINAL/OT – Riverside 69, Saddleback 60.

OT 0:00 – It’s over. The run is over for the Gauchos.

OT 0:13.6 – Norris hits one of two free throws for Riverside. It’s 69-60.

OT 0:14.9 – Kevin Menner sinks a basket in the lane. It’s 68-60 Riverside.

OT 0:24.3 – David Norris hits two free throws for Riverside. It’s 10-0 in the overtime and 68-58 Riverside.

OT 0:35.4 – After a Saddleback foul, Aaron Woods lies on the ground in obvious pain. It looks to be his ankle.

He is helped off. Daniel Redmond goes to the line for Riverside and hits both free throws. It’s 66-58 Riverside. It looks about over. Tigers are on an 8-0 run in the overtime.

OT 0:38.6 – Session puts up a shot that misses and Riverside pulls down the rebound.

OT 0:52.5 – T.J. Lipold fouls for Saddleback. James Calhoun hits both free throws for Riverside. It’s 64-58 Riverside.

OT 0:56.7 – Kyle Wallace loses the ball out of bounds in the corner for Saddleback.

OT 1:31 – Riverside puts up a three as the shot clock expires. It misses and they recover the rebound.

OT 1:57 – Riverside timeout.

OT 2:24 – Donovan Buford gets the tip-in for Riverside. It’s 62-58, Tigers lead.

OT 2:53 – Marquis Green puts up a three for Saddleback that misses the mark.

OT 4:10 – David Norris gets the first points of overtime. Its 60-58 Riverside.

OT 5:00 – Saddleback wins the overtime tip. Time to find a winner.

END OF REGULATION – Saddleback 58, Riverside 58

2^nd Half 0:00 – Menner misses on his driving shot and we are going to overtime to decide the State Championship.

Someone needs to get me some medication… This is ridiculous.

2^nd Half 0:16.0 – After getting the inbounds in, the Gauchos get stuck in the corner and take another timeout.

…No seriously… Is this REALLY happening AGAIN?!?!?

2^nd Half 0:20.8 – Riverside misfires on the inbounds pass. Saddleback’s ball. Timeout Saddleback.

…Is this really happening again!?!?

2^nd Half 0:20.8 – Aaron Woods answers again with a three pointer. It’s tied up at 58. Timeout Saddleback.

2^nd Half 0:28.5 – Riverside wastes clock at the half court. The shot misses.

2^nd Half 1:01 – Kevin Menner is fouled on his way up to the basket. Menner hits one of two. It’s 58-55 Riverside.

2^nd Half 1:03 - Aaron Woods hits a three for Saddleback. The ball is turned over on the inbounds by Riverside. It’s 58-54.

2^nd Half 1:23 - Saddleback starts the fouling in an attempt to get the ball back. Terrell Mack commits the foul, but it is his fifth. He is out of the game. David Norris hits both free throws. It’s58-51 Riverside.

2^nd Half 1:25 - Goaltending is called on Riverside. Saddleback basket is good. It’s 56-51 Riverside.

It’s tough to make a comeback when you keep turning the ball over.

2^nd Half 2:45 – Saddleback takes a timeout. They’re going to have to pull another one out of the hat. The Gauchos are making one last push, but will it be enough?

2^nd Half 3:16 - Terrell Mack hits another three for Saddleback. It’s 56-49 Riverside.

2^nd Half 3:56 – Franklin Session delivers Saddleback’s much needed boost with a three-point shot. It’s 54-46 Riverside.

Saddleback could use a three pointer right now…

Saddleback just can’t catch any breaks. Rebounds are continually bouncing right into the hands of Riverside. Shots are just rimming out. Baskets that normally fall for the Gauchos even on a poor day aren’t today. As hard as Saddleback may try, it almost seems like fate has taken the ball out of its hands.

2^nd Half 9:13 – Menner goes up for the lay-up on the run and gets fouled. He misses the lay-up, one he normally makes, but sinks the two free throws. It’s 52-40 Riverside.

2^nd Half 11:04 - Robbie Robinson jumps up and Session deftly, yet aggressively, draws a foul on a three-point shot. Session converts two of three free throws. It’s 50-36 Riverside.

2^nd Half 12:36 – Jeffeth Maxim hits a lay-up for Riverside. The lead is back out to 15 as Riverside leads 47-32.

The Gauchos are missing the easy points right now. Blowing lay-ups and Menner just blew an open dunk. They need to convert on these. In the meanwhile, their defense has stiffened up a bit. Small victories. That’s what they need right now. They just have to start stringing them together.

2^nd Half 16:37 – Jackson hits a turnaround jumped in the key. It’s 41-30 Riverside.

2^nd Half 17:20 – David Norris hits the first three pointer of the half. It’s 41-28 Riverside.

2^nd Half 18:41 – Kevin Menner makes the basket and the ensuing free throw. He and Session are the Gauchos best players. They need to start showing it here and take control. It’s 36-26 Riverside.

2^nd Half 19:01 – David Norris gets Riverside’s first points of the second half. It’s 36-23, Riverside.

2^nd Half 19:40 – Sarunas Jackson gets Saddleback’s first point of the half by hitting one of two free throws. It’s 34-23 Riverside.

2^nd Half 20:00 – Saddleback starts with the ball in the second half. Time to go.

As the teams come out for the second half, all of the Gauchos except Jackson, Azizi, and Lipold head to the bench and sit down, while all of Riverside is up and shooting the basketball. Confidence is low, and rightfully so. They have got to find it within themselves to get back into this. It’s a major gut-check time for Saddleback. RCC’s band just started playing “Eye of the Tiger.” That’s what the Gauchos need to find here. Or they could just gouge one out of these Riverside Tigers. Whichever they feel would work best.

At the half, we are treated to the dance moves and stylings of the very young “Jump Start Crew.” It looks like a bunch of 8-10 year olds popping-and-locking and hip-hop dancing. They are followed by the “amazing” “Senior Dance Team.” These are 12-14 year old girls and three guys. Same styles I guess. I’m not an expert in the field.

HALFTIME – Riverside 34, Saddleback 22

1^st Half 0:26.3 – Session dives out of bounds to save the ball and throw it into play. It is recovered by Lipold who puts in the lay-up. It’s 34-22 Riverside.

1^st Half 1:48 - Menner and Bradshaw collide under the basket. Bradshaw is in obvious pain. Menner draws his third foul, while Bradshaw is helped off the floor. Bradshaw is being looked at behind the bench.

1^st Half 2:38 – T.J. Lipold gets a running lay-up and it’s 32-20 Riverside.

Riverside’s fans must be unaware of the fact that they are up by 14. They are still calling bloody murder on the refs. These people are relentless.

Saddleback isn’t getting any breaks at this point. The ball is rolling around the rim and falling out. They are losing dribbles. Rebounds are bouncing right into Riverside’s hands. It’s tough sledding right now.

1^st Half 5:42 – Kevin Menner makes two free throws for Saddleback’s first points in the last five minutes.

1^st Half 6:06 – The game is starting to get away from the Gauchos. Jeffeth Maxim of Riverside fights through a foul by T.J. Lipold and makes the basket. He misses the free throw and Robinson makes the put-back. Riverside is on a 12-0 run and has a 31-16 lead.

After calling everything on Riverside earlier, the referees are letting them play and letting them play extremely physical.

1^st Half 8:28 – Just as I am about to mention that Riverside’s star guard, Robbie Robinson, has no points, he scores back-to-back baskets. It’s 25-16 Riverside.

1^st Half 9:46 – Riverside is now in the bonus foul territory. They have eight fouls now. It’s 21-16 Riverside.

1^st Half 10:45 – After a huge block on Billy Azizi by Kevin Bradshaw of Riverside, Franklin Session hits Saddleback’s first three pointer of the game. It’s 17-16 Riverside.

1^st Half 11:15 – After a series of mishandled dribbles by Menner, he takes the blocking foul. The Gauchos first foul of the game. It’s 17-13 Riverside.

The Riverside fans are calling bloody murder on the referees right now. They want any move Saddleback makes to be a foul. “REF! REF! HE BREATHED RIGHT THERE!”

1^st Half 13:24 – Kevin Menner with a huge block on Lawrence Etah. And on the ensuing rebound, Shawn Sawyer gets block by the rim on a dunk attempt.

Saddleback has no fouls through the first six minutes of play. That’s a new concept. While the Riverside fans also notice this, as there is a huge disparity, six to none, in fouls. Saddleback needs to start taking advantage of these foul shots. They will be huge.

This definitely has the intensity and pace of a state championship. It also contains all of the tension and aggressiveness of a conference rivalry. This is has all the makings of a classic barn-burner.

1^st Half 15:09 – Session ends the quick skid by the Gauchos with a jumper at the top of the key. It’s 15-10 Tigers.

1^st Half 15:36 – Bryant is all over the place. The Tigers steal the ball and lob it down to Bryant who gets the transition lay-up. He has 11 points and its 15-8 Tigers.

1^st Half 16:04 – Bryant hits his third three-point shot in a row. Its 13-8 Tigers.

1^st Half 16:41 – Bryant hits another three, and Riverside takes the lead 10-8.

Saddleback coach Andy Ground has his rather large shirt for his small frame un-tucked today. I wonder, did he run out of belts?

1^st Half 17:35 – Jovan Bryant of Riverside hits the first three pointer of the game. It’s 6-5 Gauchos.

1^st Half 17:43 – Just as I mention him, Menner gets the steal and goes in for the uncontested lay-up. 6-2 Saddleback.

Kevin Menner is no longer sporting the leg pad he had last game. He’s running around without any notice of a limp.

1^st Half 18:42 – David Norris gets the first basket for Riverside and it’s tied 2-2.

1^st Half 19:01 – Franklin Session slashes to the basket and put in the first points of the game for Saddleback. 2-0 Gauchos.

1^st Half 20:00 - Riverside wins the tip-off and we are underway at this all-OEC CCCAA State Championship.

Pregame

A beautiful rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” sung by a local high schooler. The first live rendition of the anthem so far in this tournament.

This is definitely the emptiest the arena has been at pregame. There seems to be the same amount of Riverside support up here. Their band, parents, and some students. Saddleback has upped their support. Saddleback President Tod A. Burnett is here at the game. Even Saddleback’s star running back, Jai Morris, is here in Fresno. There is also a section taped off with what looks like a girls dance team. Most likely for the halftime show.

You can tell on the players’ faces and their overall demeanor that this is a championship game.

South No. 1 Saddleback Gauchos: #4 Kevin Menner, #12 Kyle Wallace, #23 Franklin Session, #24 T.J. Lipold, #33 Sarunas Jackson

South No. 4 Riverside Tigers: #0 Robbie Robinson, #2 David Norris, #10 Daniel Redmon, #22 Kevin Bradshaw, #31 Jovan Bryant