Eagles Earn Berth Into Nationals with Stout Defensive Effort
The following article appeared Sunday, March 2 in the Antelope Valley Press:
PORTLAND Ore. - It couldn't have finished any more perfect for the Eagles - the West Coast Baptist Eagles that is.
Defense was the theme of the night and West Coast was again that team.
Playing that defensive game so consistently performed throughout their final 15 games, the Eagles soared once more to earn that second piece to their three-fold puzzle and claim the Pacific Christian Athletic Conference Championship 64-58 over Southwestern (also the Eagles).
"We did what we wanted to do," Besson said with a smile. "Defend and keep the game in the low 60s and we've have a chance to win."
A back and forth battle through all 40 minutes played out in the final minute and half when forward Tommy Thorogood drained a jumper with 1:12 to put West Coast up by four, 61-57.
After a big defensive stop on the following Southwestern possession and a huge rebound by Brendan Swann in a swarm of guys the momentum heavily turned towards West Coast.
A missed shot on the return offensive attempt for West Coast gave Southwestern one last glimmer of hope, but a missed long three by their star Daniel Stanton was the final straw.
It was a foul, free throw and shoot game from there, and West Coast could smell the victory.
Thorogood's ability to shutdown Stanton was more than what Beeson could have asked for, as his very physical battle with Stanton kept him to only 8 point in the night while normally averaging 20 or more.
"I just tried to keep him from penetrating and stay low and watch his chest," Thorogood said. "Defense and rebounding won the game this time."
Losing for the third time to West Coast this year, frustration filled faces of the Southwestern players as the final tick of the clock wound down.
"West Coast has a good consistent strong man-to-man defense," Southwestern coach Rick Roth said. "They also hit some timely threes and that hurt us."
In the first half WCBC jumped out to an early lead going on a 9-0 run thanks to their big man Swan who had six of those first nine points.
Establishing an inside game early was a big concern of Beeson heading into the game and it looked as though the Eagles had done that.
Although that quickly changed as Southwestern's Daniel Hann and Dax Sikes settled in to pressure Swan and put the big man in foul trouble and tighten up on West Coast's inside game.
Swan led the way for West Coast with 16 point, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Senior Jon Sisson had a quiet night offensively with six points but made his presence felt with his ability to drive through lane attracting defenders and dishing off to an open man for a score.
"I'm very happy. We were going in expecting to win," Sisson said. "We weren't scared at all."
Freshman Curtis Gordon also stepped up big for West Coast with 12 points along with Danny Galdamez with 12.
Thorogood finished the night 10 points to go along with an outstanding defensive performance.