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I
The Reedley Pirates
concluded the 2003 portion of the season with a wrenching
overtime loss to Tulare Union, 83-81, in their final game of
the Polly Wilhelmsen Tournament. The loss lowered Reedley's
season record to 9-2.
Coach Darren Minami's
squad got off to a slow start, falling behind 7-0 in the opening
minutes of the game. The Pirates did not scored until Abel
Lucca accepted a nifty pass from Jon Lepp and converted the lay-up
with under five minutes left in the quarter. Jon Wallen then
took charge, scoring 12 as the Pirates assumed a 21-19 lead at the
quarter break.
Reedley extended the
lead to 32-26 before Tulare rallied, riding a late second
quarter surge to take a 40-39 half-time lead.
Tulare came out of
the intermission on fire, scoring nine straight points to gain a
49-39 lead until Lucca stopped the streak with a drive and score.
The damage was done, however, and Tulare led 63-54 at the end of
three quarters.
In the final
frame, the margin grew to 12 before the Pirates began to rally.
Down 69-59, the Pirates used hoops by Andrew Busch and Colin Hofer,
two free throws by Lepp, and a clutch three by Wallen to whittle
the margin to 69-68 with 2:22 to play. But Tulare preserved
the lead and clung to a slight 71-69 lead with six seconds
remaining. Reedley took the ball out underneath their own
basket and nearly won the game on a three point shot, but instead
gratefully settled for Pepijn Dekker's courageous rebound and
put-back as time expired to even the score at 71-71.
The overtime was a
tense affair. Lucca nailed two tough three pointers during the
overtime, and Dekker scored off of an assist from Hofer to give
the Pirates a 79-77 lead with 1:30 remaining. Tulare answered
with a three pointer to take a 80-79 lead, a prelude to the final
dramatic ticks of the clock. With 15 seconds left the nimble
Lucca pickpocketed his Tulare opponent and drove for the go-ahead
basket at 81-80. However, Tulare raced back to the other end
of the court where Jeff Galloway netted a three pointer with seconds
remaining, giving Union their final 83-81 margin of victory.
On the night the
Pirates were paced in scoring by Lucca with 21, Wallen with 18,
Hofer with 14 and Dekker with 10. Lepp contributed seven
assists, unofficially, to give him 34 for the tournament.
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