Stockton, CA (Men's Basketball) -- For the last time this weekend, we are here live court-side at the Alex G. Spanos Center here on the campus of the University of the Pacific for the CCCAA State Championship game between the Fighting Owls and the Fullerton College Hornets. If you are interested in listening to the game you can here that on the COA Website. Just like we did yesterday, we will be using more than one thread to make it through the games.
3:05 PM: We are set-up live courtside for today's championship match-up. Right now the Mt. SAC women's team is being honored for winning their third straight State Championship. It's also the fourth title out of the last five years for the Mounties.
As soon as the ceremony is over, 20 minutes will be put up on the clock and both the Hornets and the Owls will take the floor.
3:11 PM: While we are waiting court-side, we might as well break down todays match-up. Fullerton comes into today's game with a 27-5 record and the 2007-2008 Orange Empire Conference Championship. Fullerton came into the playoffs as the #2 seed in the South, and will be the visiting team for today's game.
The Hornest are led by a pair of dynamic guards. Sophomore Justin Carter was one of the state's leading scorers, averaging 20.5 points per game, and is joined in the back court by Darrian McKinstry (13.8 ppg) who averages 4.5 assists per contest. While their strength lies in their guards, the Hornets have had strong performances in both the quarterfinals and the semi-finals from Freshman forward Mike Cox (11.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg), who has been giving teams fits all weekend long.
Mt. SAC is now getting to cut down the nets, so we are still a few minutes away from the Owls taking the floor.
3:21 PM: The Owls have now taken the floor and they are smiling and focused. They look like they came to play right away today. Yesterday they looked a little tense, but today they look loose and ready to win a State Championship!
3:26 PM: We are 15 minutes away from game time and we have tonight's starters:
For Citrus: For Fullerton:
#3 Virgil Buensuceso #1 Justin Carter
#14 Jeremy Smith #3 Darrian McKinstry
#15 Darren Moore #5 Larry DeHughes
#23 Ralph Monday #24 Wayne Andrews
#25 Buchi Awaji #32 Mike Cox
3:41 PM: The warm-up clock has expired and now we have national anthem, starters, and then the tip!
3:45 PM: As I mentioned in yesterday's story this is the second meeting between these two squads this year. The Owls knocked off Fullerton 89-82 back on December 8th, 2007. Citrus Sophomore Buchi Awaji led all scorers with 20 points in that game.
3:47 PM: All right here we go, the CCCAA State Championship game is under way...the Owls win the tip and here we go!
3:49 PM: Both teams miss shots on their first two possession and we are scoreless through the first two minutes of the contest.
3:51 PM: And the Owls are on the board with a trey from Jeremy Smith at the top of the key...Citrus 3 Fullerton 0 16:56 to go.
3:51 PM: Now its Gasporra with a three off a Nate Richardson drive and dish...Citrus 6 Fullerton 0 just over sixteen minutes to go
3:53 PM: Fullerton gets on the board with a shot down on the block, but the Owls answer with a 3-pointer by Darren Moore from the left wing, and Citrus is up by 7
3:53 PM: And the Hornets want a time-out to talk things over...the Owls don't look nearly as nervous as they did yesterday, off to a great start all ready...It's Citrus 9 Fullerton 2 15:05 left in the half
3:55 PM: Fullerton finally gets their first three and they cut the lead to four with just over 14 minutes to play in the first half
3:57 PM: Richard Frohlich makes a nice move on the block and sends a baby hook in through the basket...CC 11 FC 5
3:59 PM: After a pair of free-throws and a back door cut that leads to a slam dunk, Fullerton has cut the lead to two with 11:46 to go...Buchi Awaji gets his first points of the night with a jumper in the lane...then on the inbound Darren Moore steals the ball and lays it up and in...CC 15 FC 9 with 11:21 left
4:01 PM: Steven Bennet with a huge three from NBA range...Citrus 18 Fullerton 10
4:03 PM: All weekend long Darren Moore has been making his case as being one of the best defnsive players in the state, and he does it again with a steal and fast-break lay-up...CC 20 FC 10 with 10:11 to go
4:05 PM: Fullerton's best player, Justin Carter, pulls Fullerton back in it with a free-throw and jumper in the lane...CC 20 FC 13 with 9:02 to play
4:06 PM: The Owl's hit their fifth three of the half thanks to Buensuceso's shot at the top of the key...CC 23 FC 13
4:07 PM: Buensuceso, who had a queit game yesterday, is looking good today as he pump fakes his defender and send a beautiful shot from just inside the 3-point lane through the hoop...Citrus 27 Fullerton 15 with just over seven minutes to go
4:09 PM: Fullerton has scored four straight, but Citrus still leads by eight...CC 27 FC 19
4:12 PM: Fullerton scores again, and then blocks a Troy Payne shot...CC 27 FC 21
4:13 PM: Gasporra finally breaks the drought a 3-bomb...Citrus 30 Fullerton 21 with 4:58 to play, but the Hornets' McKinstry hits a three of his own to answer...CC 30 FC 24 with 4:35 to go
4:15 PM: Things are starting to heat up now for both teams as they trade baskets on each end of the floor, after a pair of free-throws from Darren Moore the Owls are up 34-26 with 4:02 to go
4:17 PM: Frohlich gets another bucket on the block...thanks to a great pass from the wing by Troy Payne...CC 36 FC 28 3:07 to play
4:19 PM: Fullerton gets a 3-pointer, free-throw, and jumper by Carter...CC 36 FC 34 with 1:35 to go
4:20 PM: Just as the Hornets gets some momentum Gasporra hits a huge three, and blocked shot by Richard Frohlich...CC 39 FC 34...51 seconds left in the half
4:21 PM: On a questionable offensive foul call, Buchi Awaji just picks up his third foul of the half, and has to come out of the game...back on the other end, the Owls get a call the other way
4:23 PM: Fullerton gets a pair of free-throws from Cox and the leads is three...Citrus will have the last possession of the half...here we go...Buensuceso misses a jumper from just inside the 3-point line, and the Owls will go into the half with a 39-36 lead