Classic: Clovis East rallies around ejected coach in consolation final; MC 3rd

A controversial over-and-back call sent the Clovis East High School boys basketball team tumbling over the edge.

Coach Adrian Wiggins was hit with a double technical and ejected late in the first half, resulting in four free throws and possession for Beyer.

Momentum, however, proved fleeting.

The Timberwolves rallied around their leading man, overcoming a nine-point deficit in the second half. Jaylen Johnson scored a game-high 25 points in Clovis East’s 63-60 victory in the consolation final of the Holiday Hoop Classic.

Brian Perry had 20 points for the Patriots, who surrendered a large second-half lead for the second time in four tournament games. The loss in the Classic consolation final is Beyer’s second in as many seasons.

This one was almost gift-wrapped by Wiggins, the former Fresno State women’s coach. His meltdown sent Beyer on an 8-0 run in the final 51 seconds of the first half, flipping the scoreboard.

Beyer trailed 26-24 when Wiggins stepped onto the court to argue a backcourt violation. He was assessed a second technical after following the official out near midcourt.

Perry hit three of the four free throws and then was fouled under the basket on the ensuring possession. He made both of those free throws to make it 29-26.

Perry had 11 points at the half, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Momentum swung back and forth. Beyer scored the first eight points of the game and led 18-15 after one quarter.

With precision passing and movement off the ball, Clovis East jumped ahead 26-24, finding points at the back door. Then Wiggins lost his cool, raising the temperature in this consolation final.

The Patriots’ lead swelled to 37-28 following a Deangelo Dancer 3-pointer, but the Timberwolves had one last run in them.

It proved decisive, too.

Clovis East closed the third quarter with a 7-0 blitz and then surged ahead on the clean-up ability of Johnson, who dominated the glass.

The springy forward scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, punctuating the victory with two tip-ins and two free throws with 8.9 seconds left.

Modesto Christian 63, Manteca 48 – The Crusaders used an 11-0 spurt in the third quarter to run away from Manteca in the third-place game.

Darrian Grays had 22 points, including nine straight in the third quarter, and Tyler Williams had 15 points for Modesto Christian, now 7-1 in its last eight Classic games.

The score was tied at 37-37 when Modesto Christian made its move.

Williams and Chris Brown scored in transition and Grays forced Manteca to call a timeout with a 3-pointer. It did little good. The Crusaders closed the game on a 26-11 push, securing third place.

The Buffaloes were led by Tydus Verhoeven, a 6-foot-9 point forward with a Division-I profile. Verhoeven had 18 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.

Gino Campiotti scored 18 for Manteca.

Freedom 56, Turlock 42 – The Falcons won their first 10 games of the season and rose as high as No. 6 in the MaxPreps state rankings, but the Holiday Hoop Classic has been a struggle for Freedom.

Until Friday.

Freedom (11-2) pressed and pounded Turlock, wrapping up seventh place. The Bulldogs were overwhelmed by the Falcons’ speed and depth.

“We’re not very big, but if we can learn to compete and play against this speed I think we’ll be OK,” Turlock coach Doug Cornfoot said. “Today, there were a lot of turnovers. If we can clean some of those up, we can beat a team like this.”

Freedom’s Bailey Jones led all scorers with 18 points.

Freedom finished 2-2 during tournament play with a victory over Modesto in its opener.

Turlock was paced by shooting guard Michael Patterson, who was 2 of 5 from beyond the 3-point line and finished with 12 points. Cameran Sherwood had nine points and a team-high six rebounds.

Turlock (3-9) won its opener against Castlemont, but finished with losses to Modesto Christian, El Cerrito and Freedom.

The Bulldogs have lost eight of their last nine games and open Central California Conference play on Jan. 4 at home against El Capitan.

“I’m happy with the way they competed,” Cornfoot said. “They didn’t back down. Playing these teams can be intimidating.

“We’re pretty young. We start a freshman and a sophomore, so the expectation is to come back next year and win a couple of these games.”

Berkeley 71, Ceres 47 – Cristian Garcia had no trouble scoring, but his teammates did.

The 6-foot-6 Garcia scored a game-high 23 points for the Bulldogs, who couldn’t keep pace with Yellowjackets in the 11th-place game.

Sean Spikes led three Berkeley players in double figures with 20 points. Ben Baker had 18 and Avery Burt 10.

Castlemont 74, Delhi 62 – Chance Browning closed his Classic experience on a high note. The Delhi forward scored in double figures all four days, rounding out the tournament with 29 points.

It was almost enough to beat Castlemont, which trailed by 34-27 at intermission.

“We just didn’t control the tempo in the second half and that cost us,” Delhi coach Brian de la Porte said.

Despite an 0-4 record and last-place finish, de la Porte believes his small-school program is ready for Southern League play.

The Hawks, who opened tournament play with Immanuel, Clovis East and Modesto, begin league at Mariposa on Jan. 4. Mariposa is the defending league and Division V section champion.

“Overall, we got to play against some really good teams,” de la Porte said. “I think it has more than prepared us for league play. So hopefully it pays off.”

This story was originally published December 30, 2016 at 2:55 PM with the headline "Classic: Clovis East rallies around ejected coach in consolation final; MC 3rd."