By Jose Aldana
The Cooperative boys' varsity basketball team won the playoff consolation
game, thus claiming the third place in the League, by overpowering the Griffins
by 54-24 in a game played at Christian Learning's gym on Tuesday.
The Jaguars successfully dominated every
aspect of the game from the start to finish, though both teams got off to a
slow start, fighting for ball possession and striving to claim control of the
game. Nevertheless, Milan Marinkovic, Jaguars' prominent center, led his team into
the lead scoring 6 points.
Marinkovic's teammate, Nicolas Suarez, was another headliner, creating space
for him to accurately score 5 points, including a keen three-pointer. The
Griffins' defensive system was no match for the dynamic combination of
Marinkovic and Suarez.
By
the end of the first quarter the Jaguars had established a comfortable lead of
11-2.
In the second quarter, the Griffins made a last ditch effort to quash Jaguar
dominance. Guided by an unflagging Juan Sebastian Velasco, the Griffins worked
through offensive sets, moving the ball rapidly and well, and spreading the
scoring across the team. But they couldn’t shoot well consistently.
As they struggled to control Griffins' more daring offenses, Jaguars
committed a series of technical fouls, which granted valuable free throws that
were effectively scored by Griffins Velasco and Raul Valle.
But
at the same time the Jaguars were continuing their offensive pressure.
Dribbling up the court with his high dribble almost challenging the defenders
to take the ball away from him, Marinkovic drove and repeatedly managed to find
his way to the hoop scoring. Also contributing were Eduardo Ustarez and Josue
Abuawad, who made a basket.
At halftime the Jaguars led by 19-11.
The
opening of the third quarter belonged to the Jaguars and, proved to be important
minutes of the game. Marinkovic continued
to be simply unstoppable. Through his quick hustle, fluid handling of the ball
and outstanding driving skills, he himself managed to surpass every opponent
standing in his way. .
To
the dismay of the Griffins, Andres Shin, who up until halftime had turned in an
unspectacular performance, earned his place on the offensive side, causing all
types of havoc to the Griffin’s backcourt.
On
the other hand, the Griffins were not willing to throw the towel. They never
gave up and continue to fight. Juan Sebastian Velasco’s unwavering commitment
to his team make him the pivotal part of all phases of the Griffins play,
bringing the ball down, getting the offense going, and scoring nine points. Raul
Valle also managed to score a valuable jumper.
However,
by the end of the third quarter, the Jaguars had widened their lead to 14
points, leading their opponents, 34-20.
A
slow start in the fourth quartered hampered Griffins’ hopes of a comeback. The
Jaguars’ trio of Milan Marinkovic, Andres Shin and Nicolas Suarez continued to
command of the action, making life for the Griffin’s defense a living hell. In
the quarter Marinkovic had 10 points, Shin 8, and Suarez 2.
Velasco and Daniel Hanley
continued to fight and managed to score two points each, but the Griffins never
came close to closing the deficit.
The
final buzzer sounded signaling the end of the game and concretizing a deserved
victory for the Jaguars by 54-24, as they fraternally celebrated their status
as third place finishers.
(Jose Aldana is a junior at Christian Learning and a staff writer for
the website.)
