PLAYOFF CHANCES HURT FOR MARAUDER MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WITH LOSS TO LA VALLEY

Photo by David Nurse

VALLEY GLEN - The Marauder men's basketball team certainly didn't do anything to boost its resume and help its playoff chances with a disappointing 78-66 loss to LA Valley College, Wednesday night.  

Nothing is guaranteed for the Marauders, which desperately need to win their remaining three games of the season, two of which they have already lost to, Santa Monica College and Bakersfield College. The thing that bodes well for AVC is those two games will be played at home where the Marauders are unblemished this season.

Things simply didn't go right for the Marauders as they shot a dismal 35 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range and only 50 percent from the foul line. They also committed an uncharacteristic 16 turnovers. AVC averages only 11 turnovers per game on the season.

Despite a gaudy record at 20-6 overall, the Marauders, which have the second highest winning percentage in the entire Western States Conference, have struggled in conference, losing to three teams with sub .500 records. 

The Marauders maintained the lead throughout the first half before LA Valley closed the final 5 1/2 minutes of the first half with a 15-3 run giving it a 37-29 lead.

AVC crawled its way back into the game after Cory Dollarhide netted a 3-pointer which cut LA Valley's lead to 42-39. Later in the second half, Kenneth Moffett hit a bucket with 13:04 remaining and the Marauders led 48-47 at that point.

LA Valley used an 8-1 run over a 3-minute span late in the second half taking a 64-56 lead. AVC couldn't recover and LA Valley's final 12 points came from the free throw line.