THREE ON THREE -- Competing trios of Knights and Jaguars fight for rebound.Joaquin Siles, Cooperative
Knights overcome improved Jaguars, 30-24
By Ana Saavedra Banzer
Cambridge College
The Cambridge boys varsity basketball team took third place by winning the consolation game against Cooperative 30-24 Friday in the Christian Learning basketball arena, which was home to the championship tournament this year.
However, Cooperative, a young and improving team, played its best game of the year, even though it was without the services of Top Ten scorer Diego Morales. The Jaguars, who were winless this year, showed that they could be much more of a factor next season.
Cambridge, for its part, could take satisfaction from getting over a serious and apparently highly contagious case of the "yips" that had hamstrung its scoring ability in the last two games.
The game started well for the Knights as Fabricio Suberana got the first basket of the day.
During the first five minutes both teams were dribbling well, but some magic was needed to spice up the scoring.
It arrived. Both teams started firing in baskets, and Cooperative had a one point lead at the end of the quarter, 8-7. Oliver Lederman tallied twice in the period for the Jaguars. Daniel Kim and Jose Ribera answered for the Knights.
The second quarter stared with a three-pointer by Jose Ribera, to put the Knights ahead. They did not surrender the lead after that, though a three-pointer by Jose Alfredo Abuawad made things close at 12-11.
Ribera and Alvaro Lopez scored for Cambridge to put the Knights ahead 16-11, but Abuawad hit another three-pointer to tighten things up again, 16-14. Lopez stole the ball the next time the Jaguars came down court, and went in for an easy lay-up that put Cambridge ahead 18-14 at the half.
A three-pointer by Ribera and a foul shot by Tae Han Kook right after the intermission made it 22-14.
At this point there was a heated altercation between the Cooperative coach Max Farfan and the referees that resulted in Farfan's neing expelled and two technical fouls.
Ribera connected on two of the four resulting opportunities, making the score 24-14.
The game then became extremely intense, with both the Knights and Jaguars realizing that this was their last chance to prove themselves this season. They dribbled furiously up and down the court and fought tooth and nail for the ball.
The third quarter ended with the Knights ahead 26-16.
The last quarter started with more of the same -- furious dribbling, intense defense, and little scoring. Both teams looked like little boys fighting for candy.
The score went to 28-19, and then 30-20.
Jaguar Andres Shin cut the difference to 30-22 with a brilliant lay-up that acted out, or expressed in motion, the Jaguar's pent-up fury and frustration. Not long afterward Shin connected again to make it 30-24.
Just a munute remained in the game, and the Knights clearly intended to bounce the ball around for the remaining time. The Jaguars finally got it again with 17 seconds to go, but didn't score.
And then it was over. The Knights won. Amazing job for them.
And a great job for the Jaguars too.
Ribera led all scorers with 16 points. Kim had seven for the Knights, Lopez four, Suberano two, and Kook one.
For the Jaguars Abuawad had nine points, including two three-pointers. Shin had eight, Lederman four, and Suarez three (on a three-pointer).
By Ana Saavedra Banzer
Cambridge College
The Cambridge boys varsity basketball team took third place by winning the consolation game against Cooperative 30-24 Friday in the Christian Learning basketball arena, which was home to the championship tournament this year.
However, Cooperative, a young and improving team, played its best game of the year, even though it was without the services of Top Ten scorer Diego Morales. The Jaguars, who were winless this year, showed that they could be much more of a factor next season.
Cambridge, for its part, could take satisfaction from getting over a serious and apparently highly contagious case of the "yips" that had hamstrung its scoring ability in the last two games.
The game started well for the Knights as Fabricio Suberana got the first basket of the day.
During the first five minutes both teams were dribbling well, but some magic was needed to spice up the scoring.
It arrived. Both teams started firing in baskets, and Cooperative had a one point lead at the end of the quarter, 8-7. Oliver Lederman tallied twice in the period for the Jaguars. Daniel Kim and Jose Ribera answered for the Knights.
The second quarter stared with a three-pointer by Jose Ribera, to put the Knights ahead. They did not surrender the lead after that, though a three-pointer by Jose Alfredo Abuawad made things close at 12-11.
Ribera and Alvaro Lopez scored for Cambridge to put the Knights ahead 16-11, but Abuawad hit another three-pointer to tighten things up again, 16-14. Lopez stole the ball the next time the Jaguars came down court, and went in for an easy lay-up that put Cambridge ahead 18-14 at the half.
A three-pointer by Ribera and a foul shot by Tae Han Kook right after the intermission made it 22-14.
At this point there was a heated altercation between the Cooperative coach Max Farfan and the referees that resulted in Farfan's neing expelled and two technical fouls.
Ribera connected on two of the four resulting opportunities, making the score 24-14.
The game then became extremely intense, with both the Knights and Jaguars realizing that this was their last chance to prove themselves this season. They dribbled furiously up and down the court and fought tooth and nail for the ball.
The third quarter ended with the Knights ahead 26-16.
The last quarter started with more of the same -- furious dribbling, intense defense, and little scoring. Both teams looked like little boys fighting for candy.
The score went to 28-19, and then 30-20.
Jaguar Andres Shin cut the difference to 30-22 with a brilliant lay-up that acted out, or expressed in motion, the Jaguar's pent-up fury and frustration. Not long afterward Shin connected again to make it 30-24.
Just a munute remained in the game, and the Knights clearly intended to bounce the ball around for the remaining time. The Jaguars finally got it again with 17 seconds to go, but didn't score.
And then it was over. The Knights won. Amazing job for them.
And a great job for the Jaguars too.
Ribera led all scorers with 16 points. Kim had seven for the Knights, Lopez four, Suberano two, and Kook one.
For the Jaguars Abuawad had nine points, including two three-pointers. Shin had eight, Lederman four, and Suarez three (on a three-pointer).
