MBB | Bench contributors guide Men to a 69-60 win over Santa Rosa

The Vikings ground out a crucial 69-60 victory over the Bear Cubs of Santa Rosa at the “Vikings Palladium” thanks in large part to superb contributions from the reserves.

MBB | Bench contributors guide Men to a 69-60 win over Santa Rosa

Team Stats

February 18, 2015
PLEASANT HILL -- The Vikings ground out a crucial 69-60 victory over the Bear Cubs of Santa Rosa at the "Vikings Palladium" thanks in large part to superb contributions from the reserves.  Jaques Carraway seemingly couldn't miss, putting up 23 points and 5 boards off the bench, and Nate Ellis added 11 during a big spurt in the second half to help DVC hold off SRJC down the stretch.

The first half was very evenly contested as each team flexed its particular strength to force something of a stalemate.  For DVC, strong interior defense (Rico Nuño authored 3 clean blocks) and rebounding (where the Vikes enjoyed a 16-5 advantage, led by Spencer Clark's 5) ensured that the Bear Cubs would have to score from three-point land.  Unfortunately for the Green and White, that's exactly what Santa Rosa did, dialing long distance five times in the half, including two from leading scorer Davone Oliver.  The Vikings got their lift off the bench, though, as Carraway unleashed an array of turnaround moves to tally a game-high 12 points in the first half.  After Olajuwon Garner hit a leaning buzzer-beating three, the Vikings went to the break up 27-24.

In the second half, DVC's balanced attack was able to match a few spurts from the Bear Cubs, first from Parker Farris, who put up 8 points in the first 5 minutes of the period (he finished with 18), and later from Corey Hammell, who took advantage of the Vikings early foul trouble to put up 7 points in short order.  Jalen Headspeth put up four early points for the Vikings, but it was Nate Ellis that stretched the lead with a dazzling sequence featuring a leaner while being fouled, a top-of-the-key three, and a nice pull-up jumper.

In the final ten minutes, Jaques Carraway again found his range and out-dueled Hammell, putting up 11 more points and holding the Bear Cubs at arm's length throughout the stretch run.  While a Bear Cub full-court press briefly frustrated the Vikings, Santa Rosa never managed to convert it into points, and DVC conducted the game to the desired end: a tenth win in conference, keeping their playoff hopes alive.  The Vikings finish the regular season in Modesto on Friday.

Story contribution by Joe Hickey

Photo taken by Patrick Jackson