Point Guard Ajon Efferson had a game high 18 points for Pasadena
By Corey Kwok
(Pasadena) – Pasadena blitzed Bonita early and it proved decisive in the remainder of the contest as the host Bulldogs (23-6, #2) knocked out Bonita 64-50 Tuesday night in the CIFSS 3AAA quarterfinals before a capacity crowd at Tom Hamilton Gymnasium.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 20-4 advantage with under a minute left in the opening stanza, but had to out-battle the Bearcats to the end before finally putting them away. PHS gets back to the semifinals after going to the 2-A title game in 2010 and an early second round exit last season in 1-AA.
Three starters contributed solidly for the Bulldogs, led by Ajon Efferson who nailed four 3-pointers and left with a game high 18 points. Blake Hamilton, averaging a near-double double so far this playoffs (13.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 3.3 steals, 1.7 blocks), poured in 16 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks, and an assist to help ‘Dena’s cause. Brandon Jolley also did his part with 11 points, 8 boards, 8 dimes, 3 dishes, and 1 swat.
Bonita flourished in offensive rebounding (14 to PHS’ 7) and stood even with Pasadena at 28-all in the boards department, which helped the Bearcats stay in the hunt.
Bonita outscored the Dogs 43-42 over the last three frames. The Bearcats hit five treys over the first 2 1/2 quarters. Matt Adamo delivered a huge game off the bench for Bonita via the perimeter as he flushed four treys towards a team high 14 points.
The sharpshooting Adamo hit two of those within 33 seconds in the third quarter to bring Bonita within 10, but Efferson answered right back by burying a bomb of his own off John John Haywood’s assist.
Consecutive second-chance rebounds by the Bearcats helped pave the way for Bryan Mahood to nail a trey and deuce that once more got his team within 10, but an ensuing trio of free throws from Jolley, plus jump shots by Efferson and Perris Hicks with a Hamilton slam off Jolley’s bounce-pass at the 1:06 mark, helped extinguish Bonita down the stretch.
Pasadena hit 13 free throws in the second half. Mahood provided a spark off the bench for Bonita finishing with 12 points. The Bearcat point guard, Brandon Ko, surfaced big with five second chance boards and six assists, piling up all 13 of his points in the second half.
Bonita: 7 11 14 18 50
Pasadena: 22, 9 17 16 64
P: Efferson 18, Hamilton 16, Jolley 11, Haywood 8, Hicks 6, Jeffery McClendon 3, Raymond Jackson 2
B: Adamo 14, Ko 13, Mahood 12, Tony Digirolamo 4, Dane Hollar 4, Garrett Horine 3
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