San Bernardino, CA (Men’s Basketball) – After becoming only the third team in Citrus College history to win 20 or more games, the 2006-2007 Fighting Owls squad’s historic run came to an end tonight as they fell at the hands of the #3 seed San Bernardino Valley.
Though they led through the 1st half and by as much as 5 with just under 14 minutes to play the mighty Owls fell prey to some deep three’s from Lance Hurdle and clutch free-throw shooting from Johnny Barnes down the stretch.
With 12:14 to go, the Owls held a slim 1 point lead, but that was soon taken away as Darrian McKinstry drove through the lane and layed the ball up and in. On the Wolverines very next possession, Phil Friesen fouled Hurdle sending him to the line to shoot three free-throws. Hurdle nailed all three giving the Wolverines their largest lead of the game to that point at 4 points with 11:07 to play. That was the momentum shifter as San Bernardino Valley would lead the rest of the way.
Citrus would battle back to within three-points after Phil Friesen hit a jumper in the lane with 3:20 to play, but the Wolverines came right back and got a three, from McKinstry pushing their lead back up to 6. Citrus would make one more run as they got to within 3-points again with 23 seconds remaining, but Johny Barnes, who had made only one of his first three free-throws of the game, sank all 6 free-throws as the Owls sent him to the line 3 different times before the end of the game.
In the end the Owls fell shot and lost 69-62. In the loss the Owls shot only 39.3% from the field and just 22.2% from beyond the 3-point arc, compared to SBV’s 48.1% clip from the field and 31.3% shooting from 3-point land. The Fighting Owls were also badly out-rebounded 41-27. Phil Friesen led all Owls in scoring with 18 points; while Deonta Black had 16 points and a team high 6 rebounds. Kevin McCaughey was the only other Owl in double figures with 13 points.
While the Owls season is cut shorter than they would like, Citrus has no reason to hang their head as they are only the third team in Citrus history to accomplish a twenty win season. As the seasons come to a close the Owls record stands at 21-13.