SBVC (11-6; 3-0) had their hands full from the opening tip and then a pair of huge free throws in the final 28 seconds kept the home side in the game as they knocked off the Barstow Vikings (11-10; 1-2), 73-70.
SBVC opened the game with a three pointer from sophomore starting guard Jaysheana Martinez-Williams (San Bernardino Arroyo Valley) and off they went, as both teams attempted to figure out one another's weaknesses, Barstow carried a one point lead for a brief time and relinquished that lead with 1:33 left in the quarter. SBVC would end the first with a two point lead 20-18.
As the second quarter commenced, SBVC started to pull away as Martinez-Williams hit back-to-back three pointers, the home side would take a ten point lead into the half, 43-33.
Early in the third quarter, the Vikings tried desperately to dig into that ten point lead, but the SBVC defense would not let them. The home side would continue to build their lead as SBVC took their largest lead of the game, 55-43, on a jumper by freshman forward ReAndrene Jones (San Bernardino San Gorgonio) with 1:09 left in the quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Barstow made their run, going on a 15-4 roll and getting to within one point, 63-62 with 4:08 left in the game. Back-to-back layups by Martinez-Williams and sophomore forward Sydney Gray (Las Vegas (NV) Centennial) slowed the Vikings down, but Barstow was not done. The Vikings would go on an 8-1 run, taking a two point lead with 47 seconds left, 70-68. On a drive to the basket, sophomore guard Chase Nacsin (San Bernardino Cajon) was fouled and went to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game.
Nacsin would not disappoint, making both free throws with ease and tying the game at 70-70. Moments later, after a missed layup by the Vikings, SBVC freshman guard Briana Piggue (Riverside Arlington) grabbed the ball and riffled it up court to Gray who laid it up and in, giving SBVC a two point lead with seven seconds left. Gray would split a pair of free throws with less than two seconds left to secure the victory.
SBVC has a 42-0 regular season home record since the 2009-10 season.
Martinez-Williams led all scorers with 26 points going 9 for 17 from the field, but was an unconscious 7 for 13 from three point range, she led the team in assists as well with five. Gray put up 16 points on 7 of 14 shooting, leading the team with 8 boards and 2 blocks. Piggue contributed 11 points on 4 of 11 shooting and sophomore forward Xiomara Moya (Riverside Ramona) added 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting in the win.
Photo by Wade Byars.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information.