Willow Glen Resident

Sports

Rams roll to title in Wildcat Shootout

By Brad Wall

With just seven seconds left in the game, the Willow Glen Rams were clinging to a two-point lead against Pioneer, and the championship of the Los Gatos Lions Club Wildcat Shootout was in the hands of freshman forward Jimmy Renneke.

As the Rams fans chanted, "Freshman, Freshman," Renneke calmly walked up to the free-throw line and drained both attempts to seal the deal for the Rams as they defeated the Mustangs 54-51 in the championship game.

"He's got a great stroke. We didn't know if we would put him in tonight and he walks in and hits a three (on his first shot)," said Willow Glen head coach Todd Meeker. Meeker also said that despite Renneke's inexperience, he never considered taking him out at the end of the game.

Renneke teamed with all-tournament selections Kyle Schroeder and Steven Skavdahl to form a triple threat for the Rams as they scored 44 of the Rams 54 points.

While Renneke's free throws were the game clincher, the decisive play of the game was a wild sequence with 35 seconds left in the game.

Down 48-46, Schroeder was fouled on a three-point attempt. To complicate matters for the Mustangs, they were called for a technical foul. All of a sudden the Rams had five free throw attempts to make up the two-point deficit.

While the Mustangs fans were upset about the momentum-changing technical foul, Pioneer head coach Joe Berticevich refused to lay any blame on the referees.

"We're not going to do that again," said Berticevich of the game-changing technical.

Despite the call, the game was everything a championship game should be--two good teams trading shots back and forth until the final whistle.

The Mustangs started quickly as T.J. Watson and Andrew Springer hit three-pointers to help build a 9-0 lead.

Undaunted, the Rams would answer as Anthony Rodriguez and Schroeder hit back-to-back threes to spark an 8-0 run of their own.

However, the Mustangs would eventually push their advantage to 15-11 at the end of the first quarter, and behind the solid play guard play of Matt Montelongo and Springer would build their lead to 20-11 in the second quarter.

"Starting five seniors, we've got a lot of experience so nothing is going to phase us," said Skavdahl of having to rally from nine points down.

Renneke, Schroeder and Skavdahl would lead the Rams as they outscored the Mustangs 14-3 to close out the second quarter and give Willow Glen a 25-23 halftime lead.

It was the Mustangs' turn to pull off a rally, as they turned a 31-26 third quarter deficit into a 35-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter thanks to a 9-3 run punctuated by a three-pointer by Gilbert Mendoza.

The Mustangs continued their surge in the beginning of the fourth quarter, pushing their advantage to seven points with 1:37 left in the game.

However, the Rams had one last push left in them. Skavdahl hit a three, made a steal and nailed two free throws in the next 30 seconds to draw the Rams within two points at 48-46.

"We didn't execute at the end," said Berticevich.

Skavdahl scored 13 points and for his efforts was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. He credited his success to hard work during the off season.

"[Winning the tournament] brings a little more respect to Willow Glen," said Skavdahl. "We haven't always been the most respected program."

Along with Skavdahl and Schroeder, Pioneer's Mendoza was also named to the all-tournament team. They were joined by Leland guard Drew Marino, Leigh forward Reece Behrens, Saratoga guard Bo Nielsen and Los Gatos guard Greg Walters.

Schroeder led the Rams and all scorers with 17 points, and Renneke added 14. Billy Hahn scored four, and Brian Chunn and Anthony Rodriguez had three points apiece.

The Mustangs were paced by Watson and Springer, who had 10 points each. Montelongo scored nine, Mendoza had eight and Marty De Gier scored three.

"Everything we do is geared for Jan. 3, the start of league. This gets us going in the direction we want to go," said Meeker. "We beat three really good teams this week."

Both teams cruised in their first round games.

Willow Glen used a 20-7 third quarter to run past Leigh 62-49. Schroeder scored 20 points, Skavdahl 15, Hahn 14, Evan Bishop five, Chunn and Rodriguez three apiece and Renneke two.

Pioneer dominated Live Oak in its opening game 62-36, holding the Acorns to single digits in three quarters. The Mustangs were led by Mendoza's 20 points. Springer scored 10 points, Collins and Watson hit seven points each, Nick Maggipinto had six, Mike Beltramo four and Clark Worthington and Shawn Bundlie two apiece.

Willow Glen and Pioneer had much different experiences in their semifinal games.

After trailing just 31-25 at the half, a horrendous four-point third quarter doomed the Wildcats as they fell to Willow Glen 56-47. Karl Winkelman led the Wildcats with 15 points.

For the Rams, Skavdahl led all scorers with 26 points. Hahn scored 18, Schroeder five, Renneke four, Chunn two and Dan O'Shaughnessy one.