Columbia claims big victory

COLUMBIA -- The Columbia College Claim Jumpers have sweated through these finishes almost every night this season: Second-half lead shrinking, confidence waning, a game on the line.

And here was Cañada rushing the ball down the court Monday night trailing 67-65.

Two points to tie and three to steal into the night with a win.

"Déjà vu," Columbia sophomore Evan Scott admitted.

This time, the Claim Jumpers survived. Peter Pappageorge's off-balance bid for the victory, while Columbia defenders buzzed around him, clanked off the rim as time expired.

To say the Claim Jumpers (5-8) were relieved qualified as a mineshaft-sized understatement.

"Our last five games have been like that -- possession basketball," Columbia coach Nate Rien said. "I don't think it was pretty by any means."

Columbia won't fret about style points.

Not only did the win kick off the community college portion of Columbia's own Robert Dominik Fuchs Memorial Holiday Classic, it also was earned sans two of the Claim Jumpers' top players.

Guard Simeon Walker hasn't yet returned from his Miami home for holiday break, and O.J. Mayo was benched for disciplinary reasons until Wednesday night's tournament-closing game against De Anza.

That meant the Claim Jumpers matched up against Cañada (7-4), a team ranked No. 1 in California for a while this season, minus about 24 points a game.

The Claim Jumpers adjusted with contributions from everyone, including 30-year-olds Berto Martinez (two 3-pointers) and Pat Rien, the latter the coach's brother.

"We've finally become a little more battle-tested," said Scott, a game-long force with 22 points. "It shows us the right way to win close games. We had that lead like we always do, and we took control."

It didn't hurt, of course, to drain 10 3-pointers. Point guard Bobby Monges, another of the above-age Claim Jumpers (26), pulled up and let go to the surprise of the Cañada defense.

He netted four triples and had 14 points. John Sykes, scoring effectively down the stretch, accounted for 12 points.

Columbia, supported by a small crowd at the Oak Pavilion, was not fazed when Cañada's sassy guard Bobby McCarthy (17 points) buried a 3-pointer from the left side to end the first half with Cañada in front 35-32.

The Claim Jumpers answered with Scott effective near the hoop while his teammates bombed from the perimeter. Monges' 3-pointer from the top of the key increased the Columbia lead to 54-44 with 12:28 left.

From there, the Claim Jumpers used the shot clock and maxed out their possessions. The strategy worked better than the slim win showed. Columbia would have sealed the win with comfort, but three missed 1-and-1s in the final 1:18, the last one by Kevin Cole with 11.5 seconds left, energized Cañada.

"We wanted those guys on the line," Nate Rien said. "If we knocked 'em down, we're in good shape."

Cañada's 6-5 Manny Martin (19 points) hit two triples to close the gap.

"We've worked tremendously hard lately on situations," Rien said. "We know we've got to protect leads. I thought we did a great job without two key guys."

Bee staff writer Ron Agostini can be reached at 578-2300 or ragostini@modbee.com.