[ad_1]
REDLANDS — The first half of the boys basketball game between Beaumont and Redlands East Valley was a test of resistance. The second half was a test of resilience.
Redlands East Valley led by a 15-12 score at halftime, where blocked shots and turnovers appeared more common than successful field goal attempts. Beaumont scored 11 unanswered points to get their offense going and held off a furious REV comeback to earn a 45-44 victory.
The victory gave Beaumont (17-8, 6-1 in league) sole possession of first place in the Citrus Belt League standings. REV fell to 14-10 and is 5-2 in the CBL, with both of the losses coming against the Cougars.
“Our offense was ice cold in the first half – we couldn’t make a shot,” Beaumont coach Jon Florence said. “On defense, we were OK.”
Beaumont had their only CBL loss against Citrus Valley this past Thursday, falling by a 24-point margin.
“We had wins against Cajon and Yucaipa, and we were overconfident against Citrus Valley,” Florence said. “We needed a slice of humble pie.”
Beaumont scored only two points in the first quarter. The 11-0 run was helped when Redlands East Valley twice fouled Beaumont in 3-point range. Those five free throws sandwiched Damon Potter’s 3-point shot which tied the game at 24 with 1:03 remaining in the third quarter.
Payton Joseph completed the streak at the start of the fourth quarter when he hit a layup and converted a free throw to lift Beaumont to a 30-24 lead. PJ, as he is known by teammates, scored 12 points in the fourth quarter.
“It was like hunger when we were down,” said Joseph, who called this the Cougars’ best game. “The deficit didn’t get to us. It was the next play and the next man up.”
Joseph’s two free throws with 1:26 remaining gave Beaumont a 45-34 advantage and what looked like a secure lead. It was not safe, as REV came back with 10 points in the final 50 seconds
Jeremiah Ivens hit a 3-pointer, and Luke Fromm scored after an offensive rebound with 20.6 seconds remaining. Caio DaSilva hit another 3-pointer with 9.9 seconds remaining to pull the Wildcats within three. REV forced a turnover, but Ivens missed a three-point shot.
DaSilva scored on an offensive rebound with two seconds remaining to cut the lead to one. Beaumont was able to inbound the ball as the final buzzer sounded.
“They (Beaumont) really hustle and scrap,” said REV coach Mike Aranda. “We were really resilient and made it to the last play.”
[ad_2]
Source link
