Pierce Offers No Excuses After Losing in Lancaster

It’s been 17 years since Antelope Valley College won its own junior college basketball tournament. It may be 17 more years before the Marauders do it again. The 34-year-old tournament in Lancaster draws many of the state’s finest teams. Antelope Valley is not one of them.

But Antelope Valley played Pierce on Thursday as if the championship trophy already bore its name and defeated the Brahmas, 82-75.

The Marauders put what Pierce Coach Larry Lessett called “the hurt” on the Brahmas, surprising tournament observers, who had picked Pierce and Taft as the two top teams.

Taft may still be one of the best teams in the tournament, but Pierce is now one of the best teams in the consolation bracket.

“There was no excuse for that,” Lessett said. “You just don’t go out there and turn over the basketball like that--not on God’s little green earth--and expect to win.

“If you set high expectations, and talk a lot, you have to back it up. We didn’t.”

Pierce jumped out to a crisp start, but lapsed into a lazy, undisciplined mode for much of the rest of the game. When the Brahmas started to calm down--there was some pushing going on--it was too late.

Pierce lost its early lead with 10 minutes left in the first half, then hovered about five points behind the Marauders. The Brahmas regained the lead, 30-28, on two quick shots by Andy Jercha with less than a minute left in the half.

Both teams exchanged baskets until Pierce tied it at 38 with four seconds left. On the inbound pass with time running out, Marauders’ guard Eddie Lee tossed up a 35-foot prayer that was answered at the buzzer, giving Antelope Valley a two-point lead at intermission.

Ten minutes into the second half, Antelope Valley had a seven-point lead, thanks mostly to Lee and James Wheaton. Wheaton, a 6-2 forward, ended the game with 15 points.

Pierce, which was calm, cool but crumbling, managed to tie the Marauders at the 7:15 mark, then was not heard from again until less than two minutes left in the game. By that time, Antelope Valley led, 77-64.

“They lost their concentration,” Lessett said. “A lot of that is due to the fact that they are young and inexperienced. Adjusting to the college level is without a doubt our team’s biggest problem. Thirty-two minutes is a lot different than 40 minutes.”

Glendale 56, Palomar 54--The Vaqueros advanced to the semifinals with a narrow win over the Comets.

Glendale withstood a late Palomar rally as Darren Hubbell secured a tie on a free throw with just three seconds to go.

Six-foot-seven center, David Djolakian, and all-conference guard Hubbell led the Vaqueros (4-0) to a 15-10 lead in the first half. But Palomar tied the score at 21 with a minute left in the first half.

Riverside 67, Valley 59--Valley will play today in the consolation bracket after dropping to Riverside in the final game of Thursday’s tournament play.

Valley (4-3) will play Porterville today and Pierce (2-4) will play Palomar. Riverside (4-0) was led by Ted Thomas, who had 16 points, and Ralph Landers, 12 points.