SAN RAMON, Calif. – Monte Vista entered its North Coast Section Division I playoff game at California having gone 3-2 in their last five games, scoring at least 57 in each of them, going to overtime in one and double overtime in another, and winning or losing by five points or less in four of them. Tuesday night’s result fell right in line as the Mustangs defeated the Grizzlies, 65-62.
Brandon McGautha scored 21 points, Jake Fields added 11, and Jack Endries chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds for Monte Vista (12-14), which took control in the second quarter after an even first, led by eight after three, and had a 61-50 advantage with three-and-a-half minutes remaining in the game.
Adam Zalmai starred for California (14-12), tallying 20 points with four treys, Kellen Torrey had 12 all via long distance, and Amari Gray contributed 11 points.
“It’s a process, but we definitely have to be better at closing the door in these games we’ve played well and we’re comfortable in,” Monte Vista coach Nick Jones said, noting the relative youth on his team given the COVID year. “It wasn’t pretty but survive and advance.”
Gray fueled the game-ending 12-4 run. In one sequence, he produced a steal and scored, then forced another turnover and had a putback on the other side. With 1:12 to go and Monte Vista up 63-59, the Mustangs were called for a five-second violation.
After California missed a field goal and Monte Vista failed at the free throw line, Zalmai – who went out with 1:41 remaining due to an injury but came back on at the time of the violation – splashed in a three-pointer with 24.5 seconds remaining that made it 63-62.
McGautha made both ends of a one-and-one with 14.9 left on the clock, setting up the final play in which a desperation three by California missed the mark.
Gray wasn’t the only one with a big quarter; Zalmai had 12 of his total in the third, and McGautha had 10 of his, along with a block, assist, and a couple of rebounds, in the second. Trailing 21-20 with 4:33 remaining, the Mustangs hit back-to-back threes, igniting a 14-2 run to end the period. McGautha was a key part of it, including having a deflection followed by a score to complete it. Similar to McGautha and Gray, Zalmai heated up in the latter half of a quarter.
In previous meetings this season, both at California, the Grizzlies won 59-53 in the regular season match up and the Mustangs came away with a 64-60 victory in the EBAL tournament play-in game. Monte Vista now will face Bishop O’Dowd at Laney College on Friday.
“We were a mess...(but) the last two weeks we’re playing pretty good basketball,” Jones remarked. “I don’t think I’d want to play us right now.”
