By Corey Kwok
(Azusa) – Desmond Reed forced a jump ball turnover at the 8 second mark and captured a huge steal off a Gladiator inbounds three tics later. Horacio Gonzalez then hit a pair of free throws with 3 seconds to play that sealed a 40-36 come from behind win for Azusa over Gladstone Friday night in Montview League action.
The Aztecs improved to 3-1 in league while also snapping a three game losing streak against Gladstone dating back to January 25, 2008. Gonzalez showed why free throws often win games and championships by finishing a solid 7 of 8 at the line for all his points.
Reed had three of his four steals in the final frame. Jose Nunez also had four thefts with a pair in both the second and third quarters.
A see-saw affair of slippery offense and unpredictable defense played out in the first half. Both teams stumbled to a 9 of 40 mark from the field and combined for 21 turnovers by the break.
The Gladiators were off and running to a 4-0 lead in the game’s initial minute on layups by Danny Juarez and Sameer Sedam.
The Aztecs countered with the next five to go up 5-4 on an Abraham Ochoa basket and two free throws followed by a free toss by Reed.
Sedam, (Sameer), then hit a trey off Robert Rosas’ assist before teammate/brother Osama Sedam stole one and took it to the rack in response for the Gladiators. G-Stone held a 9-6 advantage after one frame as both teams went scoreless over the last 2:50.
Azusa managed only a Mario Flores bucket and two free throws each by Nunez and Gonzalez during the second quarter against Gladstone who held an 18-12 lead at halftime.
The Aztecs outscored the Gladiators 7-3 in the first four minutes of the third, closing the gap to two (21-19) on Jordan Blackburn’s 3 point play.
Rosas’ pipeline activated again, dishing to Sedam (Osama) for a triple and 5 point Gladiator ballgame. Blackburn came right back and scored 14 seconds later to make it a three point affair, but Paul Flores, after a scrap on the floor, drained a set of free throws to give G-Stone a 27-21 lead after three.
Azusa, on the first fourth quarter possession, turned the ball over as the shot clock hit a dozen. Almost immediately, Juarez found Flores (Paul) in the paint for a deuce that put the Gladiators up by eight at 29-21- the game’s largest margin.
The Aztecs then unleashed a 12-1 offensive surge to take the lead for good 3 minutes into the stretch drive. Azusa’s momentum held on a three point play by Daniel Velasquez and two free throws. Nunez also buried a huge three.
Velasquez, the Aztec post player, also pulled down six caroms.
Officiating/jurisprudence notes: An Aztec player was ejected from the game with 58 seconds left in the third quarter after committing an intentional, malicious foul, pinning Sameer Sedam to the baseline. Sedam shook it off to contribute a rebound and four free throws the rest of the way.
G 9 9 9 9 – 36
A 6 6 9 19 – 40
G – Sameer Sedam 16, Paul Flores 8, Osama Sedam 5, Juarez 4, Vincent Delgado 3
A – Nunez 9, Blackburn 7, Gonzalez 7, Ochoa 5, Velasquez 5, Mario Flores 4, Matt Pardo 2, Reed 1
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