PITTSBURG, CA - Reigning BVAL MVP Jonathan Ned didn't need to put up any big performances during recent Heritage victories, but that changed on Friday in the team's Bay Valley Athletic League opener, and the 6-foot-7 senior responded in a big way during the Patriots' 64-56 win over host Pittsburg.
In a game best described by head coach Pat Cruickshank as a "hard-fought BVAL road win", Heritage (15-2, 1-0) trailed by eight points after one quarter before getting untracked. Ned and Ezra Manjon were the only players to score in the first quarter for the Patriots, but they started to get some help going forward. Meanwhile, Ned was steady for all four quarters, and finished with a game-high 29 points.
Manjon scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half, as Heritage cut the deficit to two points heading into the locker room, trailing 32-30. Charles Stanford also started to get involved, and scored six of his 13 points in the third quarter. Ned has nine of his points in the same quarter, as the Patriots forged a five-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Stanford hit three of his four free throws in the final quarter, and Saleem Mahdi helped put the finishing touches on the win, scoring all four of his points in the final frame, as the defending BVAL champions pulled away late.
Dariuss Robertson had a big first half for the Pirates, hitting a pair of early three-pointers and scoring eight points in the first quarter, but was limited from there, finishing the game with 10 points. Meanwhile, junior Alfred Njunge scored all of his team-high 11 points in the second half, as he worked to keep Pittsburg (7-9, 0-1) within striking distance. Keyvon Ridley added nine points in the loss.
The Pirates look to bounce back on Wednesday, January 17, in a non-league game against James Logan. Heritage hosts Deer Valley next Friday.
