2008 Woodie Awards
Mustangs down and out
Men advance to semi-finals, but lose to San Bernardino by one point after a controversail foul was called. Women's poor shooting killed their state title dreams in round one.
Karyn Gilbert
Issue date: 3/18/05 Section: Sports
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The Delta Mustangs drove down with anticipation of winning state, torching a 21-year drought, but only after reaching the Final Four with their 30th win after defeating the College of the Desert 74-62, Thursday, March 10.
Sam Kirby scored all 14 of his points in the second half, giving his team their 24th consecutive victory, as Delta advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1987.
Star point guard Chris Walker scored 14 points within 38 minutes before he had to leave the game due to cramps in his left leg. Power forward Kyle Huggett had a double-double, with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman forward Kevin Bland scored 10 points just in the first half.
Brian Katz gazed on in joy as his Mustangs progressed the furthest in his 12 seasons of coaching at Delta.
"This is unquestionably the best we've played in weeks," Katz said.
The Roadrunners were able to get ahead, snagging the rebounds in a 15-5 run within the first seven minutes, as the Mustangs only banked two of their nine shots.
Delta took the lead 35-29 at halftime and 52-48 with 13 minutes remaining.
Saturday, March 12 was the end of the road for the Mustangs; they had to watch Kevin Henderson of San Bernardino Valley sink two free throws, to beat Delta 85-84, with 0.8 seconds to go in overtime.
The Wolverines advanced to play number one in north Fresno Sunday.
After the controversial foul call on Kirby, the Mustangs ended with a 30-2 record.
Delta was leading until Aaron Nixon of San Bernardino Valley hit a fall-away three-pointer, for a 74-74 tie in the final seconds to go into an extra period.
After the score went back and forth, Kirby had the chance to take the lead; with the game tied 83-83, he missed one with 5.2 second to go.
Henderson went for the wining shot for the Wolverines and a foul was called. Without a doubt, he went up and made both shots giving his team the one-point victory and send Delta home to pack.
Sam Kirby scored all 14 of his points in the second half, giving his team their 24th consecutive victory, as Delta advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1987.
Star point guard Chris Walker scored 14 points within 38 minutes before he had to leave the game due to cramps in his left leg. Power forward Kyle Huggett had a double-double, with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman forward Kevin Bland scored 10 points just in the first half.
Brian Katz gazed on in joy as his Mustangs progressed the furthest in his 12 seasons of coaching at Delta.
"This is unquestionably the best we've played in weeks," Katz said.
The Roadrunners were able to get ahead, snagging the rebounds in a 15-5 run within the first seven minutes, as the Mustangs only banked two of their nine shots.
Delta took the lead 35-29 at halftime and 52-48 with 13 minutes remaining.
Saturday, March 12 was the end of the road for the Mustangs; they had to watch Kevin Henderson of San Bernardino Valley sink two free throws, to beat Delta 85-84, with 0.8 seconds to go in overtime.
The Wolverines advanced to play number one in north Fresno Sunday.
After the controversial foul call on Kirby, the Mustangs ended with a 30-2 record.
Delta was leading until Aaron Nixon of San Bernardino Valley hit a fall-away three-pointer, for a 74-74 tie in the final seconds to go into an extra period.
After the score went back and forth, Kirby had the chance to take the lead; with the game tied 83-83, he missed one with 5.2 second to go.
Henderson went for the wining shot for the Wolverines and a foul was called. Without a doubt, he went up and made both shots giving his team the one-point victory and send Delta home to pack.