COD Men’s Basketball grabs first win of 2016 at SBCC Tourney

COD (1-8) received their first win of the 2016 season, making their way to the Consolation Final of the 44th annual SBCC Classic in Santa Barbara.

The Roadrunners opened up the SBCC Classic against the Santa Barbara City Vaqueros (2-7) with Desert down two at the break, 30-28, both teams ramped up the offense in the second half. Desert would drop 55 points in the second half alone and narrowly knock off the Vaqueros, for the Roadrunners first win of the 2016-17 season, 83-80.

Freshman starting guard Shaquille Russell (Reseda Cleveland) led the team with 20 points, going a perfect 4 for 4 from beyond the arc and freshman starting guard Philippe Salawa (Fontana Azariel Blanchard Miller) contributed 16 points, going 5 of 12 from the field in the win. The Roadrunners dominated on the boards, grabbing 53, compared to 35 for the Vaqueros.

Sophomore starting forward Dajuan Fulgham (Montevallo, AL) grabbed his first double-double of the season, snagging 16 boards and 12 points on 5 of 10 shooting, leading the team in assists, with three, and blocked shots with four.

Sophomore starting forward Donovan Wilson (Michigan City, IN) also had three assists and sophomore starting guard Kenny Lewis (Riverside Ramona) led the team with two steals on the night.

On the champion's side of the bracket, Desert faced off with Pacific Coast Athletic Conference-South Division opponent, the Grossmont Griffins (7-5), where the Griffins took a six point lead at the half, 40-34 and while the Roadrunners got close throughout they had a hard time breaking through, and Grossmont took the game, 78-66.

Russell led all scorers with a dominating 30 point performance, going 5 for 11 from three-point range and going and almost perfect 9 for 10 from the free throw line. Salawa contributed 12 points on 5 of 12 shooting and led the team with two assists. 

Fulgham led the team with seven total boards and three blocks and Lewis led the team with two steals and two assists on the night.

In the third place game, Desert ran into Pacific Coast Athletic Conference-North Division new rival, the San Diego Miramar Jets (8-4), where the Roadrunners were down three, 30-27 going into the break and then sent the game into overtime on a last second basket, tying the game at 62-62 at the end of regulation. In the overtime period, Desert and Miramar struggled to separate themselves from one another, but in the end the Jets would prevail, 74-71.

The Roadrunners received one of the most balanced attacks from their starters in the season thus far, with four of their five starters in double figures. Leading the way for Desert was Lewis, who put up 17 points, going 5 for 12 from beyond the arc and, along with Wilson and freshman forward Gunnar Mogolis (Palm Desert H.S.), each player had a team leading two steals. 

Russell and Salawa each had 16 points apiece, with Russell shooting 5 for 13 from the field and going 4 for 5 from the charity stripe and Salawa shooting 6 of 17 from the field and going 4 for 5 from the free throw line. Salawa also led the team with two blocked shots on the evening.

Wilson grabbed his first double-double of the season, snagging 10 boards and 11 points on 3 of 5 shooting and going a perfect 4 for 4 from the free throw line.

Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.