Boys’ basketball: Etiwanda pulls out 52-51 win over Ventura
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With two teams having a combined record of 34-1, it figured that the basketball game between Etiwanda (17-0) and Ventura (17-1) on Monday night at Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos would be a good one, and it was better than that.
Etiwanda had to overcome a five-point deficit in the last 2 1/2 minutes. The Eagles seemed beaten with 16.4 seconds. Ventura had the ball, and Etiwanda was fouling trying to force a one-and-one while trailing, 51-50. But Etiwanda got possession on a held ball, and Evan Jenkins made a basket with 10 seconds left for a 52-51 lead.
Ventura had several shot attempts in the frantic final seconds but they wouldn’t go in, and Etiwanda, ranked No. 2 by The Times, came away with the victory over No. 21 Ventura.
‘We played a very good team and made a good run,’ Ventura Coach Dan Larson said. ‘I knew we could compete.’
Even more impressive for Ventura, which competes in Division 2AA, is that the Cougars fell behind, 10-0, at the outset. Dylan Houck rallied Ventura in the fourth quarter and finished with 14 points. Jon McMurry made four three-pointers.
Byron Wesley had 16 points for Etiwanda, whose coach, Dave Kleckner, was not pleased with his team’s effort.
‘That’s the kind of stuff that knocks you out of the playoffs,’ he said. ‘These kids control their own destiny. It’s on them, not us. If they think that’s an acceptable performance, they don’t know what it takes.’
-- Eric Sondheimer