MidValleySports.Com

By Corey Kwok

Pool A

La Canada 46, Arcadia 44

La Canada capitalized in transition during the second half to plow its way out of an 18-point hole two minutes into the third quarter and another of 10 points 30 seconds into the fourth to score a remarkable comeback victory over Arcadia.

Brendan Hempstead (2 assists, 1 block) was brilliant from the perimeter with six three-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points to lead the Spartans. Ryan Lee had three of his five assists go toward Brendan’s threes while Jack Anderson hit one of his own and cleaned up the boards for 10 rebounds. But the key spark in La Canada’s arsenal tonight was Koko Kurdoghlian, who delivered 15 points off the bench, including four consecutive free throws to tie the game at 44 with 1:23 to play before scoring off a press-break and Hempstead assist for the eventual winning layup with 23 seconds left.

The Apaches flew to an 11-0 start and were up 27-13 at halftime. Leading Arcadia were Ben Bowen (6 rebounds, an assist and steal), who shot a solid 8 for 9 from the field for 19 points, and Brian Taylor (6 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal). Stephen Smith scored six points and dealt two blocked shots.
LC:   4,   9, 15, 18 — 46

AR: 13, 14,   9,   8 — 44
LC – Hempstead 20 (six 3’s), Kurdoghlian 15, Daniel Jun 6, Jack Anderson 3, Mario Del Cueto 2 AR – Bowen 19, Kevin Gill 8, Smith 6, Taylor 6, Esteban De Mendoza 2, Joe Haines 2, Daren Sue 1

Arroyo 46, Wilson 43

A fast start in the first proved decisive, and Primitivo Gomez determinedly kept Arroyo ahead in crunch time, as he scored 10 of his team’s 12 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 31 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, four steals, and one block to lead the Knights past Wilson.
The Wildcats began the third on an 11-0 run, scoring four straight times off Arroyo turnovers, before the Knights regrouped to finish that period with a 13-1 run, capped by a trio of three pointers, including two from Edgar Lupercio (9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists) who was assisted by Gomez both times.

Justin Diaz hit a three with 20.7 seconds left to pull Wilson within two but Arroyo held on for the victory as Peter Aholoka secured the final rebound of the game as one of Wilson’s shots clanked off. Diaz led his squad with 21 points and four steals. Brandon Miramontes, Kenny Lopez, and Kevin Price all had eight rebounds apiece for the Wildcats.
WIL:   6 ,10, 14, 13 — 43

ARR: 11,  9, 14,  12 — 46
W: Diaz 21, Eli Mercado 8, Miramontes 7, Bryan Leyva 4, Lopez 3 A: Gomez 31, Lupercio 9, Jesus Garcia 2, Erick Estrada 2, Ryan Tran 2

Pool B

Bishop Amat 67, Workman Lobos 60 OT

Joseph Cook’s leadership on the court, both vocally and physically, along with a dose of clutch shooting from Jeff Wold and perimeter support by Ian Hagerty (both Jeff and Ian had three 3’s), all served the Lancers well in its come from behind overtime win over the hot-starting Lobos.

Cook led Amat with 22 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three blocks. Amat single-digited and trailed Workman 20-9 after the first stanza before Wold (19 points) unleashed eight quick points midway into the second to initiate the Lancers 17-4 close to the break, where it cut its deficit to three as Jerick Santos wheeled the roundball to Eric Fonseca for a buzzer beating trey.

Osnar Garcia and J.P Rodriguze both downed treys from considerable distance to fuel an early Lobo feast. Garcia had a game-high 23 points, accruing 11 of that in the first frame. Rodriguez splashed four three-pointers and was next with 11, while Mario Macias did all sorts of dirty work (12 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, a block, and steal) for the Lobos.
BA:  9, 17, 15, 12, 14 — 67

W:  20,   9, 10, 14, 7 —  60
Amat – Cook 22, Wold 19, Hagerty 9, Fonseca 6, Santos 5, Jacob Valle 4, Josh Andarza 2 Wkmn – Garcia 23, Rodriguez 16, Macias 12, Alan De La Cruz 6, Dan Solis 3 (6 rebounds and 4 blocks)
Montclair 74, South El Monte 54

A swift fastbreak and transition windfall in the third by Montclair led to a 32-point quarter, which shiftet momentum the Cavaliers’ way and was enough to ward off a slow fourth quarter start to glide by South El Monte.

Richard Natividad was one of three Eagles who posted double figures in the scoring department with 13 points, 15 rebounds, and four (second half) assists. Alex Ortiz (6 for 9 FG) and Reyes Abalos both chipped in 12 points for South.

Jody Smith needed just three quarters of play to bind up 17 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block for Montclair, who received 16 points off the bench (14 in second half) from Gabriel Ontiveros. Kyle Smith scored all his 12 in the third stanza bonanza.
M:     9, 14, 32, 19 — 74

SEM:  7,   7, 18, 22 — 54
M – J Smith 17, Ontiveros 16, K Smith 12, Joey Garzo 8, Kris Baes 6, Joe Carrington 6, Kevin Fregoso 5, Kenneth Arcayena 2, Adrian Garcia 2 SEM – Natividad 13, Abalos 12, Ortiz 12, Eduardo Hernandez 4, Juan Cossio 3, Antonio Sandoval 3, Xuong Ho 2, Isai Peralta 2, Chris Castillo 2, Osvaldo Lopez 1

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