By Tim Peterson
(Monrovia) – San Marino trailed early but in the end the Titans were the last team standing in a 71-64 road win over Monrovia Friday night.
The Wildcats went on an 11-3 run to open the game and led 18-12 after the first quarter. But San Marino outscored Monrovia in each of the next three quarters to gain control.
In an up tempo game the Titans were determined to get up the most shots especially from long range. The Titans shot 20 three pointers overall and hit 7 of them including four in the second quarter after missing all six in the first.
San Marino outscored Monrovia 22-14 in the second quarter to take a 34-32 lead at the half. Mason Lo buried two from distance in the second and Aidan Hoang and Robert Reyes also hit one each from beyond the arc.
Both teams were hot in the third. Robert Bush had seven points including a three and Alejandro Carvajal scored four for Monrovia as the Wildcats tried to keep pace. San Marino still had a 20-18 advantage in the third however as Lo hit another three and Michael Azinge scored six points in and around the paint.
Jonathan Cruz, who had a big night for M-Town, tossed in six points in the fourth quarter as the Cats attempted a late run but the Titans eventually pulled away. Azinge hit three from the free throw line and scored five in the final frame and Xavier Duong had five as well including a three as the Titans outscored Monrovia 17-14 in the fourth and went on to the seven-point victory.
Cruz led Monrovia and all scorers on the night with 18 points. Bush and Barnes were also in double figures for the Wildcats with 12 and 11 respectively.
Azinge was at the top of the scoring column for San Marino with 16 and Duong finished with 13. Reyes had 10 and Lo added nine.
San Marino improved to 15-2 overall and 2-1 in the Rio Hondo League with the victory while Monrovia dropped to 8-7 and 1-2.
SM 12 22 20 17 71
MO 18 14 18 14 64
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