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MEN'S BASKETBALL WINS STATE TITLE, UPSETS SADDLEBACK BASKETBALL MEN (3/15/2009) |
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The 2009 men's basketball title is the College's fourth men's title for the Tigers. Riverside won three under hall of fame coach Jerry Tarkanian in 1964, 1965 and 1966. Smith's dad was a guard on Tarkanian's 1965 and 1966 teams. Riverside, which finished third in Orange Empire Conference competition, becomes the lowest finishing team to ever win a state title. But it was not easy. Riverside opened an 8-point halftime lead (34-22) and with 12 minutes remaining in the final period had built an 18-point, but Saddleback, champions of the Orange Empire Conference and the south's No. 1 seed, stormed back, outscoring the Tigers 12-2 over the final 3:23 to tie the game at 58-58. Saddleback had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Kevin Menner missed a lay-up with three seconds remaining and Riverside's David Norris grabbed the rebound. "You know I was really surprised when we got up on Saddleback like we did early," said Smith. "Because we know each other so well (this was their third meeting this year), I didn't expect either team to able to get such a big lead. "Your really need to take your hat off to Saddleback. They never quit and they showed why they won the toughest conference title in the state to win, and perhaps the country." In the overtime period, Riverside scored the first 10 points and never looked back. The Tigers (30-7) held Saddleback (29-8) scoreless in the five-minute overtime for 4 minutes and 46 seconds, while making 7 of 8 free throws in OT. Norris, the tournament MVP, scored five of his team-high 18 points in the OT period. He also grabbed eight rebounds. Kevin Bradshaw, who was also named to the all-tournament team, finished with 11 points, as did teammate Jovan Bryant. Robbie Robinson, also selected to the all-tournament team, finished with 8 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals. "I really thought our guys kept their composure, especially in the overtime period. I thought in the final minutes of regulation, our guys were just trying to get the game over with rather that going out there and winning it. But I'm proud of them, they found their composure in the overtime period and closed it out." Menner finished with 22 points to lead Saddleback. Franklin Session, the OEC MVP and an all-state selection, finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds, 12 on the defensive end. The overtime game was the sixth in the state history and the first since 1984. Southern California programs have now won 10 of the last 13 state men's basketball titles. Riverside becomes the third Orange Empire Conference team to win in the 13-year span, joining Saddleback (2002) and Fullerton (2006). The runner-up finish is the Gauchos third (1987, 1979) in their history. And it was all done with Coach Tarkanian's wife in the stands. Dr. Lois Tarkanian flew in for the championship game from their home in Las Vegas. "When I took this job five years ago, I felt great pressure to get Riverside back to this point and I worked hard to achieve it, but I found myself tied to it," said Smith. But I soon learned I didn't need to stress over it. "But do I feel like the monkey is off my back? Yes, I do." Previous State Championships Won by Riverside Community College Baseball 2000 2001 2002 2007 Men's Basketball 1964 1965 1966 2009 Women'''Ãs Basketball 1986 Men's Cross Country 1991 1994 Football 1989 (National Championship) Women's Swimming 1998 Men's Track and Field 1989 1992 1996 2008 Women's Water Polo 2005 2007 |