MidValleySports.Com

Matt Valazza scored eight points including the first three of the game

(Temple City) – Temple City went on a 16-4 run to open the third quarter and went on to beat Monrovia 66-60 Friday night in the Rio Hondo League opener.

  After the first half ended deadlocked at 27, the Rams scored 24 points in the third quarter to grab an 11 point lead at the end of three. Harriman Chiang led the way going four for four in the period- all three pointers. Zach Aquino also buried one from long distance and scored five points in the quarter.

  Down 51-40 at the end of the third, Monrovia made one last push. The Wildcats outscored TC 11-2 to open the fourth and cut the lead to two before Aquino hit a runner in the lane to put TC back up by four at 55-51.

  Caleb Halversen knocked down a huge three pointer and scored five points down the stretch and Matt Valazza hit two free throws late to close out the Cats.

  Jamele Bars and Michael Carter both splashed threes during the Wildcats fourth quarter run and Duncan Malachi hit a pair of baskets. Bars led Monrovia in the scoring column with 15 and Carter was also in double figures with 13.

  Bars kept M-Town close in the first half as well with 8 points – 4 in each quarter – and Carter added six first half points.

  Leo Chu got Temple City going early with 11 points in the first half including two treys in the second quarter. Chu led the Rams with 15. Chaing and Aquino were also in double figures with 14 and 12 respectively. Halversen and Valazza each tossed in 8 and Jordan Hill contributed six including a key drive and bucket late in the game.

  Derrin Jenkins joined Bars and Carter with 10 points for Monrovia and Jonathan Henderson added 9.

  Temple City improved to 6-5 overall while Monrovia dropped to 4-9.

M    12  15  13  20    66

TC  14  12  24  15    60

M – Jenkins 10, Carter 13, Malachi 6, Henderson 9, Bars 15, Ellis McCarthy 7.

TC- Halversen 8, Chu 15, Valazza 8, Aquino 12, Nacho Perez 3, Hill 6, Chiang 14.