Palomar Wins, 75-58; Pierce Left Wondering

These are bad days for the Pierce College basketball team, loser of two of three games in the Antelope Valley basketball tournament.

Friday, Pierce lost, 75-58, to Palomar in the consolation bracket of the tournament. Pierce got there by losing to Antelope Valley on Thursday.

“We’re just like Nevada Las Vegas was at the start of their season last year,” Pierce Coach Larry Lessett said. “No matter what we do, we can’t win. We’re just not doing anything right.”

Pierce (2-6) is doing some things rather well, actually. Except rebounding and defense.

Against Palomar, freshman Cedric Purry, the highly touted, major college prospect from Long Beach, continued his impressive play. Purry scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds. Tony Thomas, the kid who led Fairfax into the City playoffs last season, had 14 points. Kent Young, a 6-4 freshman guard, had 12. That’s not too shabby.

Duane Newton had one rebound, Young had one rebound, Thomas had one rebound, Andy Jercha had one rebound and Brian Italia had one rebound. Randy Warner had three.

Along with Purry’s 11, that adds up to 19 rebounds--a shabby total.

“We’re not playing very well at Pierce right now,” Lessett said. “You would have been lucky to miss the game.”

Valley 64, Porterville 53--After Valley lost to Riverside on Thursday, Valley Coach Virgil Watson was searching the ceiling at Antelope Valley’s gym for answers.

“I don’t know what happened to us tonight,” said Watson, as his eyes scanned the rows of lights and heaters above the gym floor. “Who do we play next? Porterville? We’ll blow them right out of here.”

Valley did beat Porterville, though it wasn’t a blowout, and the Monarchs claimed fifth place in the tournament. Valley, behind the 18 points and nine rebounds of John Windham, defeated Porterville on Friday. The win improves Valley’s record to 5-3.

The two teams were tied at 26 at the half, and the Monarchs moved ahead in the second half, outscoring Porterville, 38-27.

Sophomore Fred Lewis had 12 points and Erik Harden had eight.

Pierce 26 32--58

Palomar 26 49--75

PIERCE--Purry 15 and 11 rebounds; Thomas 14; Young 12; Warner 6; Italia 6; Newton 2.

PALOMAR--Davis 17 and 11 rebounds; Nelson 16; Hurd 9; Craven 6; Crawford 5; Wesley 4; Miller 2; Sommer 2; Calhoun 2.

Valley 26 38--64

Porterville 26 27--53

VALLEY--Windham 18 and 9 rebounds; Lewis 12; Harden 8; Lopez ; Shane 6; Goodrich 6; Fontenette 3.

PORTERVILLE--Smith 5; Roberson 4; Allen 12; Womack 10; Malone 19; Linley 3.