Tornadoes work double overtime to best Falcons
NORTHEAST GLENDALE — Hoover High boys’ basketball Coach Jack Van Patten marveled at the way his team attacked the basket Friday afternoon.
Van Patten was equally impressed with the way Teo Davidian and Francis Roncal performed throughout a pair of overtimes.
Davidian and Roncal finished with 24 and 14 points, respectively, to lead Hoover to a 70-66 double-overtime victory against Pacific League rival Crescenta Valley on Friday afternoon in a pool-play game of the Vaquero Summer Classic at Glendale Community College.
“I like the way we have been getting to the basket,” said Van Patten, whose team held a 30-27 halftime lead. “Guys like Teo and Francis can both score.
“We’ve had our share of close games during the summer, and we are glad that we could win this one.”
It came down to the second three-minute overtime to settle a winner after both teams missed free-throw opportunities in the final 6.7 seconds of the first extra frame. The teams entered the second overtime deadlocked at 59.
In the second overtime, Roncal collected eight points and Davidian added three. Hoover led throughout the second overtime.
Roncal scored on a layup to give the Tornadoes a 63-59 lead with 1:34 left. After Crescenta Valley’s Narbeh Grigorian made a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 63-62 with 1:21 remaining. Davidian converted on a three-point play to extend Hoover’s lead to 66-62 with 55.4 seconds remaining. Davidian finished with five points in overtime.
A basket by Kris Jabourian of Crescenta Valley cut the lead to 66-64 with 32 seconds left. Roncal scored with 21 seconds remaining to give Hoover a 68-64 lead and Davidian made two free throws with 14.3 to go to cap the scoring.
“Hoover outplayed us for the most part,” Crescenta Valley Coach Shawn Zargarian said. “They outworked us in terms of effort and rebounding.
“We still have a lot to work on and we need more time to practice.”
Crescenta Valley lost starting guard Cole Currie after he took a knee to the thigh from an opposing player late in the second half. Zargarian said the injury wasn’t serious and opted to rest Currie for the remainder of the game.
Crescenta Valley and Hoover will complete pool play today. Crescenta Valley will meet St. Francis at 2 p.m., followed by Hoover against St. Francis at 4:10.
