ANTIOCH, CA - Salesian guard James Akinjo led the way for the Pride's offense, finishing with a team-high 25 points, all of them in the first half, to lift Salesian to a 76-60 victory over host Deer Valley on Tuesday night.
"We played hard and fought throughout the whole game," said Akinjo.
Salesian led throughout the whole game but had its biggest lead at half after an 11-0 run in the final three minutes of the half, led by guard Brandon Betson, who scored nine of those 11 and finished with 16 points, as Salesian led 43-21 at the half.
Deer Valley battled back in the fourth quarter after being down by as many as 20 points, as the Wolverines went on their own 10-0 run, with five of those points being scored by guard Jacob Long to put Deer Valley only down 10 with two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Salesian would finish the game on a 10-4 run, though, hitting back-to-back threes and forcing two turnovers to seal the deal for Salesian.
"We played with lots of intensity and made key plays at the end of the game," said Betson.
Deer Valley guard Raymond Robinson finished with a team-high 12 points, including 10 in the second half, to help Deer Valley outscore Salesian 20-14 in the fourth quarter.
Deer Valley faces Clayton Valley on Saturday afternoon in the Guy Emanuele Tip-Off, while Salesian has a scrimmage with Valley Christian on Friday before facing Pinole Valley on December 1. The Pride are currently playing without standouts Jaden and Jovon McClanahan, who are part of the football team which is still alive in the section quarterfinals.
