Chris Austin goes in for two of his 24.
By Tim Peterson
(Pasadena) – Maranatha jumped out to a 14-3 lead after one quarter and went on to beat Valley Christian 59-50 Friday night in Olympic League action.
The Minutemen led 30-18 at the half an although Valley Christian did cut the lead to six late in the fourth quarter, Maranatha had enough to cross the finish line.
Chris Austin scored seven points in the first quarter and led all scorers with 24 points. Austin knocked down four out of five baskets in the third quarter as Valley Christian tried to battle back. He scored 8 of the Minutemen 15 points in the third. Austin was the only Maranatha player in double figures. Sean Espinosa finished with seven and Jesse Elrod had six including a rousing slam dunk in the fourth quarter.
Maranatha and Valley Christian get physical on Friday night!
Valley Christian didn’t make a field goal in the first quarter while Maranatha was six for 11 from the field to take an 11 point lead. The Crusaders actually outscored the Minutemen by two the rest of the way but were ever able to make up the deficit.
Jacob Green scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and led Valley Christian with 15 overall. Aaron Purnell and Gorden Boykins were also in doubles for Valley with 11 and 10 respectively.
The Minutemen are now in control of the Olympic League with a record of 3-0 and 9-7 overall. Valley Christian dropped to 2-2 and 12-9.
I will tell you how $$$
In the major basketball story of the night, Bol Bol, son of the late NBA star Manute Bol, played for the Mater Dei Monarchs against Trinity foe Orange Lutheran last night, after being cleared just days earlier by the CIF-SS office. MD coach Gary McKnight declined to comment on the details of how he got Bol to transfer into town, but everyone is now hopeful that the Santa Ana team can now beat their arch nemesis of recent years, the Chino Hills Huskies.