December 29, 2011
Hancock Basketball Advances to Final Against Cuesta College
After Cuesta beat Bakersfield in a 48-47 overtime victory, the Bulldogs went up against Butte College for the chance to play in an all Central Coast championship game at the annual Allan Hancock College Holiday Classic. Butte put up a fight, but in the end it will be the Bulldogs versus the Cougars in the final game of the tournament at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30. Hancock beat Butte College in a competitive 58-52 victory.
The score stayed tight throughout the first period, after the Bulldogs took an early 14-6 lead. The Roadrunners fought back and brought the score to within three points of the Bulldogs for the remainder of the half, with the score at half 27-25 Hancock.
Early in the second half the momentum shifted for the Bulldogs after Jordan O’Byrne hit two three-pointers in a row, taking the score to 39-27. Just minutes later Abraham Millsap also hit a three point shot and the Bulldogs kept their lead now 42-30.
With nine minutes left in the half, Butte brought the score within five points of the Bulldog’s lead, but Hancock fought back with a quick basket from Zach Eerikinharju, bringing the score to 46-39. Hancock called a timeout with seven minutes left in the half and a 48-42 lead. After a foul was called on Jordan O’Byrne, Butte took the score to 44-48. Taylor Pruett quickly scored on the next drive to give Hancock a 50-44 cushion with four minutes left on the clock.
Tight defense by the Bulldogs led to a foul by Pruett and Butte was able to hit two taking the score to 50-46, Bulldogs. Another foul gave Butte possession of the ball and the Roadrunners hit another basket with three minutes on the clock, followed by another basket from Pruett, brining the score to 52-48.
Eerikinharju scored another basket with one minute left in the game, taking the score to 54-48. Butte then fouled Alex MacNeil, who hit both of his free throws with thirty five seconds left in the game. Just ten seconds later MacNeil was fouled again and this time he missed and Butte was able to rebound and then answer with a basket of their own. With 16 seconds left on the clock the Bulldogs kept a 56-50 lead. O’Byrne hit one of two free throws with seconds left in the game and seconds later returned to the free throw line to shoot again. He hit one of two again and the final score was 58-52.
O'Byrne led the team in scoring with 14 points, followed by Millsap with 12 and Pruett with 11.
The score stayed tight throughout the first period, after the Bulldogs took an early 14-6 lead. The Roadrunners fought back and brought the score to within three points of the Bulldogs for the remainder of the half, with the score at half 27-25 Hancock.
Early in the second half the momentum shifted for the Bulldogs after Jordan O’Byrne hit two three-pointers in a row, taking the score to 39-27. Just minutes later Abraham Millsap also hit a three point shot and the Bulldogs kept their lead now 42-30.
With nine minutes left in the half, Butte brought the score within five points of the Bulldog’s lead, but Hancock fought back with a quick basket from Zach Eerikinharju, bringing the score to 46-39. Hancock called a timeout with seven minutes left in the half and a 48-42 lead. After a foul was called on Jordan O’Byrne, Butte took the score to 44-48. Taylor Pruett quickly scored on the next drive to give Hancock a 50-44 cushion with four minutes left on the clock.
Tight defense by the Bulldogs led to a foul by Pruett and Butte was able to hit two taking the score to 50-46, Bulldogs. Another foul gave Butte possession of the ball and the Roadrunners hit another basket with three minutes on the clock, followed by another basket from Pruett, brining the score to 52-48.
Eerikinharju scored another basket with one minute left in the game, taking the score to 54-48. Butte then fouled Alex MacNeil, who hit both of his free throws with thirty five seconds left in the game. Just ten seconds later MacNeil was fouled again and this time he missed and Butte was able to rebound and then answer with a basket of their own. With 16 seconds left on the clock the Bulldogs kept a 56-50 lead. O’Byrne hit one of two free throws with seconds left in the game and seconds later returned to the free throw line to shoot again. He hit one of two again and the final score was 58-52.
O'Byrne led the team in scoring with 14 points, followed by Millsap with 12 and Pruett with 11.