Providence boys’ basketball has victory vanish in final minutes
BURBANK — Things appeared to be in place for the Providence High boys’ basketball team to pick up its first Liberty League-opening victory Thursday.
Then a series of events unfolded with just under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter that resulted in the Pioneers losing Coach Chris Madigan to an ejection after picking up two quick technical fouls and then the contest.
Providence saw a six-point lead vanish in the fourth quarter in a 43-40 home loss against Buckley.
With Providence (6-12, 0-2 in league) holding on to a 38-36 lead with 2:54 left, Madigan was called for his first technical foul, resulting in Buckley’s Kanoa Johnson making both technical free throws to make it 38-38. Madigan continued to argue with the officials and was tossed from the game. Johnson made one of two ensuing free throws to make it 39-38.
It wasn’t clear what Madigan, who wasn’t available for comment following the game, was arguing about.
Providence assistant Dominic Caguco declined comment on Madigan’s removal from the game.
“We felt good going into the fourth quarter and then some things didn’t go our way,” Caguco said. “We were right in there until the end.
“We just have to get back out there and turn things around.”
Buckley (7-9, 1-0) took a 43-40 lead after Caleb Martin made one of two free throws with 3.4 seconds left. Providence’s Jason Batungbacal then launched a three-point shot from near half-court that struck the backboard as time expired.
Providence held a 34-28 lead going into the final quarter. It mustered just six fourth-quarter points.
“We kept playing right up to the end,” said David Grigoryan, who paced Providence with 12 points. “It’s definitely a tough loss, but we have to find ways to get better and correct our mistakes.
“We can’t put our heads down now. It’s tough to lose coach because he’s always there for us and we’re always there for him.”
Providence held a 12-3 lead after the first quarter. The Pioneers didn’t yield a field goal in the first nine minutes and 30 seconds of the game until Paul Bingaman scored with 6:30 left in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-6.
Providence took a 23-16 lead into halftime after a basket by Brian Cabagnot with 43 seconds left.
A three-pointer by Batungbacal gave the Pioneers a 28-20 advantage with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter. Cabagnot made a pair of free throws with less than a second left in the third quarter to make it 34-28.
Providence received 11 points from Cabagnot, eight points and three steals from Batungbacal and four assists from Michael Buenaventura.
Buckley got 12 points from Johnson, 11 from Bingaman and eight points and eight rebounds from Martin.
Providence and Buckley will meet against Feb. 2 at Buckley.
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Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
