Daniel Franklin
Staff Writer
The men’s basketball team ended its season on a high note, defeating Pomona-Pitzer in a close game, 75-74, Saturday at Frantz Athletic Court in the Athletics Pavilion.
The Sagehens came out hot at the start of the game, taking a demanding 15-9 lead within the first five minutes of the game. However the Leopards slowly started to climb their way back into the game.
“I’m really happy we just got to win for our seniors on their senior night,” sophomore guard Higgy Katoa said. “We could end the year on a high note.”
The Leopards tried to climb back into the game to take the lead but the Sagehens held on. With six minutes left in the first half, the Sagehens extended the lead to a 14-point differential.
La Verne junior guard Jackson Gray drained a three with 4:44 remaining to start the Leopards offensive run to cut the lead to one. The Sagehens answered back with a three to bring the lead back to a three.
With less than a minute left in the first half, senior guard Cody Aquino hit a three to tie the game. However the Sagehens went on a 3-0 run to close out the first half, 41-37.
Aquino dropped a career high 31 points and a career high five three pointers to close out his final game as a Leopard.
“I felt a sense of joy and accomplishment,” Aquino said. “Because I know how hard I worked up till that point and was able to do it in front of all people and the rest of the people supporting La Verne.”
As the second half began, the Sagehens came out swinging, gaining an eight points lead. But the Leopards didn’t let up and continued to cut the lead down.
With 13:24 remaining, the Leopards got a fast break layup from junior guard James Christian to tie the game, 51-51. Christian had four steals on the night and finished with 12 points.
Tensions rose as both teams had five ties within the second half. With 12:03 left the Leopards finally took the lead, 55-53.
“The main thing for us is maintaining the lead along with extending it,” junior guard Kason White said. “We also have to understand who their scorers are and put our focus on stopping them.”
With 10 minutes left in the half, the Leopards and Sagehens went back and forth consistently with neither team gaining the advantage. However, with 4:07 remaining the Leopards gained the advantage, taking a seven point lead.
The Sagehens climbed their way back into the game, cutting the lead to 73-70. With 59 seconds remaining, the Sagehens tied the game at 74-74.
After a Leopards miss, they would gain possession with 25 seconds remaining after a Sagehen turnover. Gray drew a foul with four seconds left.
After missing the first free throw, Gray made the last one to give the Leopards a one-point lead. The Sagehens threw the ball at the board with a second left but didn’t succeed, and the game ended at 75-74.
Gray finished with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.“I think we’re all pretty eager for what next season is going to bring,” junior guard Caike Godoy said. “By next year we should be competing for the SCIAC tournament.”
Daniel Franklin can be reached at daniel.franklin@laverne.edu.
Daniel Franklin is a junior communications major and a staff writer for the Campus Times.
Jesse Juarez is a senior photography major and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. A camera has been a very powerful tool and a vessel of expression for him. While originally focused on portraits and fashion photography, his work is continuously evolving. His other work can be found at jessejxo199x.edublogs.org.
