YOUNG BUCS LEARNING SOME TOUGH LESSONS
Somewhere down the road, Mission Bay’s boys just might remember the pain of leading Las Vegas Cimarron-memorial for all but about 10 seconds of the game before walking off the court at Cathedral Catholic High on Thursday with a 55-54 loss in the opening round of the Governors Division of the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic.
Buccaneers basketball coach Marshawn Cherry just shook his head.
“That’s the sixth time this year we’ve had the lead in the fourth quarter and lost,” said Cherry. “It’s our youth. You don’t leave it up to the referee.”
Mission Bay (6-8) has started three sophomores, a freshman and one senior with little varsity experience at times this year. The lineup was little more experienced for this game. There were times, like when the Bucs opened a 29-16 lead with just over two minutes to play in the first half, or when they jumped in front 47-38 inside four minutes to play, that Mission Bay looked dominant.
But it was the end of the game where Cherry thought his players expected one call but got another.
Up 54-53 with 15 seconds to go, all the Bucs had to do was run out the clock after a missed free throw.
Jaysten Ramos brought the ball upcourt but was tripleteamed. He tripped and fell to the floor. Some in the building swear they heard a whistle and it seemed Mission Bay’s players expected a foul call. Instead, Cimarron’s Miles Mitchell swept up the loose ball, converting a layup.
The Bucs missed a last-second attempt to win.
“First, you don’t dribble,” said Cherry. “We had a guy wide open in the middle of the court. Get him the ball and the game’s over. But that’s where inexperience comes in. We didn’t close it out like we should.”
It wasn’t just the last play of a game that was delayed 40 minutes as Cimarron (4-7) was slowed over the Cajon Pass by the weather. It was a game where Mission Bay didn’t shoot a free throw until 6:50 remained.
Bucs freshman Angelo Gil finished with 21 points, but Mitchell hit seven 3-point field goals — three straight to tie the game at 47 — and finished with 26 points for Cimarron. He was supported by Mekhi Walker with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Brand is a freelance writer.
Las Vegas Cimarron-memorial 55, Mission Bay 54