Playoff approach leads to big win for Merced High boys basketball
The Merced High School boys basketball team approached Wednesday night’s game against Pitman as if it was a playoff game.
With both teams tied for third place and just two games left, a postseason spot was likely on the line.
The Bears played like it, putting together one of their most complete four quarters this season in defeating the Pride 71-55 at Pitman High.
“This was our biggest game of the year,” Merced coach Hector Nava said. “This was a playoff atmosphere for us. We practiced like this was a playoff game. We watched film like it.”
The Bears exploded from the start with a 21-point first quarter as Ulonzo Gilliam set the tone by driving to the basket. Gilliam scored six of his 10 points in the opening period.
The Bears (16-9, 5-3 Central California Conference) are used to CCC teams sitting back in zone defenses, forcing Merced to shoot from outside.
However, Pitman came out in man-to-man, and the Bears attacked the paint.
“Anytime we see man, it’s great,” Nava said. “It makes it easy as a coach because we can explore our strengths that we have. We can get to the rack.”
When the Pride (11-11, 4-4) switched to a zone in the second quarter, the Merced offense stalled. Pitman worked its way back into the game as Jando Diaz made two three-pointers in the second quarter to help the Pride pull within 31-23 at halftime.
“They just outrebounded us,” said Pitman’s Cyle Williams, who scored 19 points. “We did what we could to stop their dribble penetration. It just didn’t work out the way we wanted.”
Pitman hit four three-pointers early in the third quarter to cut the lead to as low as four points before Merced’s A.J. Stewart took over.
Stewart, who came off the bench and scored only four points because of foul trouble in the first half, erupted for 23 points in the second half.
The junior guard scored from all over the court, finding holes in the zone and getting out in transition. In the fourth quarter he drifted around the three-point line, hitting three shots from beyond the arc, including a 27-footer to beat the shot clock.
“I was helping my teammates out, getting them baskets early and then they helped me out. We got into a flow,” Stewart said.
Stewart helped put the game away with 15 fourth-quarter points that helped extend the Bears’ lead to 18.
“A.J. took over the fourth quarter,” Nava said. “When he takes over like that, it’s beautiful. You can see it in his eyes.”
Brandon Blackwell also came up with some big plays for Merced, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Golden Valley 59, Atwater 46 in Merced – Lee McNeill and Isaac Daniel combined for 21 of the Cougars’ 23 points in the third quarter to turn the game around. McNeill hit six three-pointers and finished with 22 points. Daniel added 18.
The win sets up a showdown for Golden Valley (13-11, 6-2 CCC) with Turlock (7-1 CCC) on Friday at Cougar Arena.
El Capitan 50, Livingston 42 in Livingston – James Sellers sank six three-pointers for 18 of his game-high 24 points to lead the Gauchos.
Sun-Star staff writer Shawn Jansen can be reached at (209) 385-2462 or sjansen@mercedsunstar.com.
This story was originally published February 4, 2015 at 10:53 PM with the headline "Playoff approach leads to big win for Merced High boys basketball."