CHAVEZ BEATS LODI BOYS BY 1
In 30 seconds, the Lodi High boys basketball team saw its lead on Chavez turn into a loss.
Taking on the Titans in a nonleague game at The Inferno on Thursday, the Flames had their chances to win the game. But Chavez took advantage of opportunities that led to a 69-68 win over Lodi.
This was the second time in two weeks that Lodi (3-8) and Chavez (4-5) have faced each other. Their first meeting was Dec. 10 at the McDonald’s Classic at Edison High, a 66-42 Chavez win.
“We come here, defending our home court,” said Lodi coach Dave Nutting. “We played really well.”
Lodi guard Raees Khan, one of three Flames who scored in double figures with 15 points, completed a three-point play that gave the Flames a 68-65 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Driving toward the basket, Khan was fouled but the basket counted to break a 65-65 tie. At the free throw line, Khan sank his free shot that increased the Flames’ lead.
The remaining time belonged to the Titans. Chavez guard Dailen Victor, coming off a screen, received the inbounds pass from guard Carlos Gason and worked his way inside the paint for a basket that trimmed the Flames’ advantage to 68-67. Then Chavez coach Mack Harris called an immediate time out to talk with his team.
After a missed Lodi shot, Chavez gained possession with 13 seconds remaining. Then at eight seconds left, Victor hit a short jumper near the paint that gave Chavez a 69-68 lead. A Lodi player, coming off the inbound, tossed the ball just past the arc, missing the net and giving the Titans a victory for the second time in two weeks.
“In the last 30 seconds, we missed a defensive assignment, and they broke free,” said Nutting of the Titans’ opportunity to score the goahead bucket.
After the game, Nutting looked at the one minor thing that hurt his team the most — not connecting on shots inside the paint.
“It was a real close game,” Nutting said. “During the game, we missed a lot of crucial, easy lay-ups. That’s just something that happens. We’ll work on that and get better.”
Lodi led 47-46 at the start of the final quarter. Both teams started the final eight minutes with 3-point shots from Flames guard Nathan Foster (game-high 18 points), taking his trey at the top of the arc for a 50-46 lead. But Chavez answered when Devin Small (18 points) nailed a shot to make it 50-49. Then both teams traded leads back and forth until the final 30 seconds of the game.
The Flames entered the third quarter with a 34-27 lead. In the first two minutes into the quarter, Lodi used a 5-2 run, thanks to Titan turnovers, to build a 39-29 lead. But Chavez stayed its rally that was benefited from mak-
ing 5-of-7 free throws to keep the game within reach.
From tip-off through most of the game, Lodi led. That included a 12-7 lead toward the end of the first quarter. That led to a 27-19 score midway through the second quarter, and then 34-27 at halftime.
Nutting was pleased with the Flames’ offensive display. In particular from Foster.
“Nathan had his best game (this season),” Nutting said. “Just played awesome.”
Behind Foster in scoring for the Flames was Reed with 16 points, plus Khan’s points. Lodi guard AJ Castaneto and center John Durham had six points each, guard Chase Shafter three and center Jordan
Vanness and forward Matt Nickel two each.
The Titans also had three players in double digit scoring; Small and Victor had 18 points each and Miller 15. Forward Albert House finished with seven points.
Lodi resumes action the day after Christmas, competing in the four-day Torrey Pines Tournament in San Diego. After two more nonleague games with Edison and Turlock after the first of the New Year, Lodi begins TriCity Athletic League action.
“Nothing matters until you get into league because the top three teams that go on into playoffs,” Nutting said. “It’s real simple. These (nonleague) games — we search and we look to see who can play. And then we will go from there.”