Going on Defensive, Glendale Comes Back for an 80-66 Victory

Glendale College rallied from a 12-point deficit in the first half to defeat Irvine Valley, 80-66, in a second-round Southern California Regional junior college men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Glendale.

The Vaqueros (30-3) took the lead for good, 57-55, on a three-point play by Mark Caguioa with nine minutes to play, but only after the lead changed hands 11 times in a fast-paced second half.

Glendale, which will play at Cerritos in the Southern California regional final Saturday night, reversed course by successfully defusing Irvine Valley’s three-point attack.

Irvine Valley (29-4) made nine three-pointers in the first half, including five by forward Ben Esplin.

In the second half, Irvine Valley made only one three-pointer and it came with three minutes to play and Glendale holding a 70-62 lead.

“We kind of took them lightly in the first half,” guard Tony Hoggatts of Glendale said. “In the second half we played a much better half, like we wanted to win.”

Hoggatts, who had 20 points and nine assists, switched to guarding Esplin in the second half.

Esplin finished with 33 points after scoring 21 in the first half. However, he made only two baskets in the second half and missed his only shot from three-point range.

“The kid was playing horse with us,” Coach Brian Beauchemin of Glendale said. “He didn’t miss. We alternated some guys on him and Tony got up on him quickly. I thought we did a good a job of maintaining our composure and running our stuff.”

Center Louis Fernandez and Caguioa, a reserve guard played their best games of the season Beauchemin said.

Fernandez scored 18 points, 12 in the second half and made several nice passes.

Caguioa scored nine points, all in the second half.

“I come off the bench,” Caguioa said. “I didn’t even think I was going to play today. I didn’t think they had faith in me. I was glad I was able to come in.”

Esplin connected on three three-pointers in the first three minutes, when Irvine Valley took an 11-4 lead. Irvine Valley made nine of 15 three-pointers in the first and led, 39-30, at halftime.

Denny Ogden of Glendale began the second half with a three-pointer that triggered a 16-8 run, which culminated with Fernandez’s driving basket that gave Glendale a 46-45 lead.

In other regional games:

Cerritos 81, Canyons 79--The Cougars led by four points in the second half before losing a second-round game at Cerritos (29-5).

Charles Madison scored 18 of his 26 points for Canyons (19-15), which was making its first postseason appearance in five seasons. Anthony Ellison had 15 points and seven rounds and Ron Slater added 10 points.

Mt. San Jacinto 95, Valley 88--Kenya Carruthers had 25 points and 13 rebounds but the Monarchs lost a second-round game at Mt. San Jacinto.

Valley (20-14) had the ball while trailing, 88-83, with 38 seconds left, but a turnover on the baseline prevented an opportunity to cut Mt. San Jacinto’s lead.

Jamaal Tinsley scored 25 points for Mt. San Jacinto (30-5).

Alan Thomas added 21 points for Valley and Joe Bakhoum had 10 points and seven assists.

WOMEN’S GAME

Valley 60, West L.A. 50--Porsche McAllister scored 15 points and Merisiani Malaki had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Monarchs in an upset of the fourth-seeded Oilers (23-7) in a second-round game of the Southern California Regional at West L.A.

No. 13 Valley (22-13), which finished fourth in the Western State Conference Southern Division, made 21 of 27 free throws, including six in a row by Patricia Nuno in the final 90 seconds.

Nuno and Maricella Rodriguez each scored 11 points.

The Monarchs will play at No. 5 San Diego Mesa on Saturday night in the regional final.