BOYS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP 2-27-09: Patriots come up just short

BERMUDA DUNES • The Hesperia Christian boys basketball team lost to Desert Christian/Bermuda Dunes 44-42 on Friday in the CIF-Southern Section Division VI-AA semifinals.

“I’m really proud of this group of kids,” Patriots (22-6) coach Scott Dobyns said. “Probably the best team I’ve coached in the six years I’ve been here. It was all about team and that’s why we were three points away from the CIF finals.”

With the game tied 42-42, Desert Christian took possession with 7 seconds left in the game. The Patriots forced the Conquerors to take a difficult shot, but James Nelson caught the rebound in the air and put it back.

Junior wing Blaine Barton hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter coming off the bench. His second 3 tied the game up at 42.

Senior point guard Jordan Vargas finished with 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. Vargas averages 12 free-throw attempts per game, but on Friday, he didn’t shoot any until the fourth quarter.

Jacob Arreola led Hesperia Christian with 13 points and added five rebounds, while Seth Thomas grabbed 12 rebounds. Chris Maerzluft had six
rebounds and two steals.

The Patriots jumped out to a quick start, leading at the half 25-20. But they went cold in the third quarter as they scored just four points.

The last time Hesperia Christian advanced to the semifinals was 17 years ago.

HESPERIA CHRISTIAN (42)
Arreola 13, Vargas 10, Ford 8, Barton 6, O’Brien 3, Maerzluft 2.
DESERT CHRISTIAN (44)
Nelson 10, Law 9, Curci 6, Martin 4, Manning 4, Dougherty 1.

H. Christian 19 6 4 13 — 42
D. Christian 10 10 9 15 — 44

3-point field goals — H. Christian 5 (Ford 2, Barton 2, Arreola); D. Christian 2 (Law 2). Fouled out — Dougherty (D).

AMERICAN PATRIOTS 65, BIBLE BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 56: At Victorville, Jordan Webb scored 25 points, and Teddy Williams finished with 17, but it wasn’t enough for Bible Baptist Christian Academy (5-4).

AMERICAN PATRIOTS (65)
Smith 18, D. Hernandez 13, N. Hernandez 11, Monroe 11, Ry. Donnelly 10, Ri. Donnelly 2.
BIBLE BAPTIST CHR. ACADEMY (56)
Webb 25, Williams 17, P. Reeder 12, D. Reeder 2.

Am. Pat. 8 14 24 19 — 65
BBCA 13 8 16 19 — 56

3-point field goals — American Patriots 2 (J. Monroe, D. Hernandez); Bible Baptist Christian Academy 3 (Wiliams 2, Webb).