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Pasadena guard Andre Spight led all scorers with 21 points. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer / January 4, 2013) |
PASADENA — Two Pacific League squads who rely on outside shooting to set the tone for their respective offenses faced each other on the hardwood in both teams’ league opener.
On Friday night, however, one of the two teams struggled from the field while the other executed well and kept up with the game plan to the tune of seven three-pointers.
Ultimately, Pasadena High prevailed over the visiting Hoover Tornadoes, 64-44, to improve to 9-4 and 1-0 in Pacific League play. The Tornadoes dropped to 8-5 on the season.
Pasadena’s Andre Spight led all scorers with 21 points and balanced scoring from the rest of the Bulldogs to go along with potent defense on the other end resulted in the defending champions leading throughout.
“Spight got hot, and once he gets hot there isn’t much that you can do,” Bulldogs Coach Tim Tucker said.
The Tornadoes tied the score on one occasion, which came late in the first quarter. Two three-point field goals on 17 attempts made a comeback difficult, though, as the Bulldogs held a double-digit advantage for the entirety of the second half.
“We want to shoot the ball from the outside, but we just didn’t hit shots today,” Tornadoes Coach Jack Van Patten said. “They [Pasadena] play well here. They played a great game and we didn’t.”
Van Patten and the Tornadoes dropped both meetings against the Bulldogs last season and will face their league counterparts again on Jan. 25.
Francis Roncal led the team with 13 points — six in a first quarter that saw the Tornadoes play the Bulldogs to a 15-15 tie after the first eight minutes.
Pasadena outscored Hoover, 21-14, in the second and sustained the momentum in the second half, led by Spight, who scored 13 of his 21 points.
“He’s a good player — probably the best in the league,” Van Patten said of Spight. “If he isn’t, then I don’t know who is.”
Despite missing three of their top six players, the Bulldogs had three players scoring in double figures with Perris Hicks (11) and Nick Brown (10) complementing well. Raymond Jackson added seven points.
Tucker attributed the win to the team’s defense, though.
“Our defense wore them down and we got a lead we were able to ride it in,” Tucker said.
Teo Davidian followed Roncal’s 13 with eight points for the Tornadoes, who will continue league play at Burroughs High on Monday.
Pasadena travels to Burbank to take on the Bulldogs on Monday.
On Friday night, however, one of the two teams struggled from the field while the other executed well and kept up with the game plan to the tune of seven three-pointers.
Ultimately, Pasadena High prevailed over the visiting Hoover Tornadoes, 64-44, to improve to 9-4 and 1-0 in Pacific League play. The Tornadoes dropped to 8-5 on the season.
Pasadena’s Andre Spight led all scorers with 21 points and balanced scoring from the rest of the Bulldogs to go along with potent defense on the other end resulted in the defending champions leading throughout.
“Spight got hot, and once he gets hot there isn’t much that you can do,” Bulldogs Coach Tim Tucker said.
The Tornadoes tied the score on one occasion, which came late in the first quarter. Two three-point field goals on 17 attempts made a comeback difficult, though, as the Bulldogs held a double-digit advantage for the entirety of the second half.
“We want to shoot the ball from the outside, but we just didn’t hit shots today,” Tornadoes Coach Jack Van Patten said. “They [Pasadena] play well here. They played a great game and we didn’t.”
Van Patten and the Tornadoes dropped both meetings against the Bulldogs last season and will face their league counterparts again on Jan. 25.
Francis Roncal led the team with 13 points — six in a first quarter that saw the Tornadoes play the Bulldogs to a 15-15 tie after the first eight minutes.
Pasadena outscored Hoover, 21-14, in the second and sustained the momentum in the second half, led by Spight, who scored 13 of his 21 points.
“He’s a good player — probably the best in the league,” Van Patten said of Spight. “If he isn’t, then I don’t know who is.”
Despite missing three of their top six players, the Bulldogs had three players scoring in double figures with Perris Hicks (11) and Nick Brown (10) complementing well. Raymond Jackson added seven points.
Tucker attributed the win to the team’s defense, though.
“Our defense wore them down and we got a lead we were able to ride it in,” Tucker said.
Teo Davidian followed Roncal’s 13 with eight points for the Tornadoes, who will continue league play at Burroughs High on Monday.
Pasadena travels to Burbank to take on the Bulldogs on Monday.
