Tumanian Helps Canyons Hold the Line Over Butte

At the end of every practice, each player on the College of the Canyons women’s basketball team must shoot 100 free throws before going home.

All that fine-tuning paid off during the Cougars’ 73-65 victory over Butte on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Junior College State Championships at De Anza College.

Canyons (32-4) will face Merced in the semifinals today at 4:30 p.m. at San Jose State.

The Cougars didn’t set the nets on fire with their free-throw shooting, making 18 of 27 (66.7%), but freshman forward Gohar Tumanian took advantage of nearly every opportunity.

Tumanian scored a game-high 30 points, including 12 of 14 free throws, to help the Cougars dispose of a Butte team that was athletically outclassed but determined.

Canyons was never able to shake the Roadrunners (30-5), who trailed, 67-63, with 2:25 to play. The Cougars stayed in front primarily because of Tumanian’s free-throw shooting and Butte’s inability to convert from the foul line.

The Roadrunners made only 10 of 22 (45%) free throws and 27 of 72 (37.5%) shots.

Canyons made 26 of 60 (43.3%) shots.

“We didn’t play very well,” Canyons Coach Greg Herrick said.

“We seemed to be a little on the lazy side.”

The Cougars took advantage of Butte’s foul trouble--three Roadrunners fouled out--and posted Tumanian repeatedly, trying to draw more fouls inside.

The strategy worked and Tumanian scored Canyon’s first 10 points of the second half, six on layups, two on an offensive rebound and two on free throws.

“The perimeter game is not our game,” Herrick said.

“We are not prolific at shooting the three-pointer.”

Sophomore forward Nikki Turner scored 13 points for Canyons and sophomore point guard Kyetra Brown had 12 points and 12 assists.

Point guard Michele Johnson scored 19 points for Butte before fouling out with 6:30 to play.

“We were obviously in trouble because she is so athletic and can make things happen,” Butte Coach Greg Sheley said of Johnson.

Canyons led, 37-32, at halftime behind Tumanian’s 13 points.

Butte’s Johnson opened the scoring with a layup before the Cougars took off on an 8-0 run. But the Roadrunners responded by scoring the next seven points to take the lead, 9-8, four minutes into the game.

With the scored tied, 20-20, Canyons scored nine consecutive points on three baskets by Tumanian and a three-point basket by guard LaCresha Clark from the right corner.

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JC Women’s Basketball State Championships

At De Anza College

All Times Pacific

First Round--Thursday

* Solano 73, Cuesta 62

* Canyons 73, Butte 65

* Ventura 81, De Anza 61

* Merced 70, Moorpark 51

Semifinals--Today at San Jose State

* Ventura vs. Solano, 2:30 p.m.

* Canyons vs. Merced, 4:30 p.m.

Championship--Saturday at San Jose State, 5 p.m.