By Tim Peterson
(Arcadia) – Nigel McKay scored 39 points including 11 points in the decisive fourth quarter to lift Pasadena to a 65-63 win over Arcadia Friday night in the Pacific League opener.
The Bulldogs trailed through out the first half before taking the lead for good in the third quarter. However after going up by 10 points early in the fourth quarter, they had to hang on as the Apaches rallied to within a a point late in the game.
McKay was the man the entire contest for the Bulldogs scoring over half of the team’s points. McKay almost single handedly held Arcadia at bay in the final frame knocking down a pair of threes and a couple of other key buckets. McKay hit three from beyond the arc overall and was 13 of 16 from the free throw line.
Colin O’Malley got the Apaches started early with eight points in the first quarter to give Arcadia a 14-9 lead after one. The Apaches still led by two at the half at 28-26. Zavier Smith had six points for Pasadena in the second as the Bulldogs cut slightly into the lead.
Both teams heated up in the third quarter as Pasadena forged ahead outscoring Arcadia 23-19 to take a two point advantage. Shant Chenorhavorian was red hot for the Apaches burying three straight bombs from Duarte Road. McKay countered the long range attack with a couple of treys of his own. He had 15 of the 23 in the quarter.
The Bulldogs went up 59-49 early in the fourth with a quick 10-2 run and seemed to be in control. The Apaches had one last run in them however going on an 11-2 sprint of their own to slice the Dena lead to 61-60. Chenorhavorian hit two more threes and Adrian Hernandez hit a couple of baskets to highlight the run.
Pasadena held on down the stretch as McKay, who else?, scored inside and hit another free throw. The Apaches had one last shot with Chenorhavorian at the line with .08 seconds left and Arcadia down three. He hit the first free throw and missed the second intentionally but the Bulldogs grabbed the rebound to secure the victory.
For Arcadia Chenorhavorian , with five three pointers, led the way with 20 points. O’Malley and Jacob Trobel each had had 11 and Hernandez added eight.
After McKay there was a huge drop off for Pasadena offensively. Smith had 11 and Chance Chesley had eight but it was McKay’s night on this Friday night.
Pasadena improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the Pacific while Arcadia dropped to 1-3 and 0-1.
P 9 17 23 16 65
A 14 14 19 16 63
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