Sports
MVP Reese Walters Leads San Diego State in win over California
San Diego State defeats California Berkeley in First Annual Southern California Showcase
By David A. Willauer-Contributing Writer-J Serra High School-San Juan Capistrano-Saturday, November 25, 2023: The California Bears mostly known for their football traditions under the late Pappy Waldorf to the men's basketball squad which made their last NCAA Basketball Tournament appearance in 2016 where they were defeated by the Rainbows of Hawaii with their last NCAA Men's Basketball Title in 1959 under Pete Newell.
The Bears played 2 games in the So Cal Challenge that was held at J Serra Catholic High School where in the first game was defeated by the Miners of Texas at El Paso 75-72 and the 2nd game lost to the Green Wave of Tulane by a 84-81 score.
In the First Annual Men's Basketball Showcase, the Bears lost their 3rd game when they ran into the 2023 NCAA Runner Up San Diego State Aztecs where Cal trailed 39-34 at the half and outscored the Aztecs in the second half 29-24,in the closing seconds of regulation Fardaws Aimaq contributed with 14 points and 18 rebounds, went 1 for 2 on the foul line tied the score at 63-63
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In overtime the Aztecs of San Diego State at 5-1 and continue to ride a 4 game winning streak outscored the 2-5 Cal Bears 13-4 and won by a 76-67 overtime victory.
Brian Dutcher San Diego State Head Men's Basketball Coach on the win: " When we take to the court were winning games along with learning about ourselves but the good news is we learn by winning, but sometimes you learn to take hard losses along with it but were concerned about our rebounding all year and it showed in today's game sometimes we have out rebounded our opponents, but we feel better about ourselves." "If we learn can to improve our rebounding will be a good team." "Cal is a very talented team as they came out battling tonight but were fortunate to come out with the win."
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"Jaeden LeDee is a good player with 19 points and 7 rebounds he had a good game but needs to get on balance to finish his shots,as we went to our regulation we played pretty connected but didn't finish off our shots that's basketball."
Reese Waters was named MVP in the Classic as he led the Aztecs with 24 points and Jaeden LeDee contributed with 19.
For the California Bears Jaylon Tyson led with 23 points, Grant Newell 11.
