Boys Basketball: Castro Valley Beats James Logan

Castro Valley 53, McClymonds 39

The Star: Castro Valley's Juan Anderson scored 24 points to lead the Trojans.

The Turning Point: When James Logan made it a five-point game with four minutes, four seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Trojans put together a quick 8-0 run highlighted by a Roderick Bobbitt three-pointer, and a Chris Read three-point play to put Castro Valley up 60-49 with just over two minutes to play, and eventually run away with the win.

The Quote: "They've got my vote as the number one team in Northen California," James Logan coach Chris Fortenberry said of the Trojans.

What's Next? Castro Valley will open the Hayward Area Athletic League campign on Jan. 5, when it hosts Tennyson.

Bottom Line: When Castro Valley needed a play to be made, it looked to one of its dynamic trio of guards in Read, Bobbitt and Anderson for an answer.

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The holidays aren't necessarily a happy time for the boys basketball team. Coach Nick Jones knows his team isn't always on its game during the two-week winter break, or the better part of December for that matter.

But great teams find ways to win. And the Trojans did that Thursday night, despite a lackluster first half of sloppy play and turnovers.

Castro Valley used a 29-point fourth quarter, highlighted by a 24-point performance from Marquette-bound Juan Anderson, to put away James Logan 72-62, a team that stymied the Trojans all game long.

"Historically, we don't play well over the holidays," Jones said. "It was ugly, but it was a road win. We'll take it."

In a game the Trojans never trailed, it looked early as if Castro Valley would run away in the contest. Anderson hit two three-pointers in his first two shot attempts, and the Trojans led 17-7 early in the second quarter.

Castro Valley (9-1) extended its lead to 25-11 with three minutes, 28 seconds left in the first half courtesy of a dunk by Chris Read and baskets by Roderick Bobbitt and Anderson.

Logan would go into the break trailing 30-20 after a three-pointer and a three-point play by Jonathan Masulit. He finished with a team-high 17 points.

That momentum would carry over into the third quarter as the Colts would open the frame on a 10-2 run on back-to-back three-pointers from Masulit again.

"We were just one or two possessions away tonight," Logan coach Chris Fortenberry said. "We just couldn't get over the hump."

But down the stretch, Castro Valley proved why it's one of the best teams in Northern California.

When Logan made it a five-point game with 4:04 left in the fourth quarter, the Trojans put together a quick 8-0 run highlighted by a Bobbitt three-pointer, and a Read three-point play to put Castro Valley up 60-49 with just over two minutes to play, and eventually run away with the win.

"They've got my vote as the number one team in Northern California," Fortenberry said of the Trojans. " They are great. You have to play a near perfect game to beat them. Any guy on their roster can take over, and control a game. They were never rattled tonight. They play under control."

Read finished with 16 points, while Bobbitt poured in 13 points in the win.

"We've got to get better," Jones said. "We need to take care of the ball. We need to shoot better, the whole nine yards."

Castro Valley opens the Hayward Area Athletic League on Jan. 5 when it hosts Tennyson.

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Castro Valley 72, James Logan 62

Castro Valley (9-1)             11         19          13          29 — 72

James Logan (5-7)             7           13          17          25 — 62

INDIVIDUALS

Castro Valley (fg ftm-fta tp) – Johnson 2 0-0 4, Read 6 4-6 16, Bobbitt 4 3-4 13, Anderson 8 6-9 24, Thompson 1 0-0 2, Reliford 0 1-2 1, Prophet 1 2-5 4, Wright 3 2-2 8, Benson 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 18-30 72.

James Logan – Jones 7 1-2 15, Puno 4 3-3 11, Murphy 2 0-0 6, Kaye 2 1-3 5, Masulit 4 5-7 17, DePerio 1 0-0 2, Rosales 3 0-0 6. Totals 23 10-15 62.

3-point goals: Castro Valley 4 (Bobbitt 2, Anderson 2). James Logan 5 (Masulit 3, Murphy 2)

Fouled Out: Puno, Murphy.

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