Vikings find defense to take out Cardinals

PREP BASKETBALL

Kremer leads PV with 21 points, Garretson adds 18 for a lopsided victory

Pleasant Valley’s Gavin Garretson shoots while Corning’s Juan Rodriguez (14) and Roman Bennett (10) defend during their playoff game Friday at Varley Gym in Chico. BEN MOTA — CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Corning’s Juan Rodriguez (14) goes for a layup as Pleasant Valley’s Bryson Snelling (5) and Cam Bussey (24) defend in the paint Friday at Varley Gym in Chico.

Corning’s Jeff Mendros, right, tries to get around Pleasant Valley’s Cam Bussey, left, on Friday at Varley Gym in Chico.

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By Sharon Martin

smartin@chicoer.com

CHICO >> Luke Kremer sank a flurry of baskets — a layup, a turn-around jumper and a 3-pointer — all in a 5-minute span.

Kremer, the senior for the Pleasant Valley boys basketball team, scored 13 points in 5 minutes to lead off the game for the Vikings.

Despite a strong effort in the first half from No. 8 seed Corning, top-seeded PV ran away with a lopsided 86-47 victory over the Cardinals to open the Northern Section Division III playoffs Friday night at Varley Gym.

“The first half we came out flat, which is not what we wanted. We didn’t want to come out underestimating them and that’s exactly what we did,” Kremer said. “In the second half we picked it up. We started playing defense.”

Kremer, who led the host Vikings with a game-high 21 points, said he won’t be playing basketball after high school, making this the last time he’ll be playing competitive basketball.

“I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how it’s my senior year and I don’t plan on playing next year so this is really my last chance to really play the sport that I love,” Kremer said. “I want to leave it all on the floor.”

PV (25-4) advances to the section semifinal where the Vikings will either host No. 4 Enterprise or No. 5 Las Plumas at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Enterprise and LP faced off on Friday night.

Corning jumped out to a quick start thanks to a putback from Javier Cayetano followed up by a corner 3 from Arjan Janda to lead PV 9-8.

Roman Bennett buried a 3 from the corner and Janda hit a long jumper that helped Corning stay within 22-19 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, PV took a 26-19 lead after a Gabe Garretson basket from the paint. But the Cardinals relied on the 3-ball to stay within striking distance of the top-seeded Vikings. Janda hit another deep 3, then buried a jumper and a Jeff Mendros layup with a drawn foul lit up the Cardinals’ bench as they got within 35-29.

“Over the last couple weeks we’ve seen our shooting go way up,” said Corning head coach Nate Borer. “So when we got those shots tonight I could tell the boys were confident. They were ready and there was no hesitation on letting those shots go.”

However, PV started to pull away. Gavin Garretson hit a jumper off the glass, Kremer assisted a Cam Bussey basket for 2 and Bryson Snelling hit a jumper to complete a sequence that spiraled into a 42-29 advantage.

A corner 3 from Bussey pushed the Vikings advantage to 47-31 heading into the break.

The Vikings pulled away for good thanks to an 11-0 run to start off the third quarter. Layups from Aiden Pearsall-Morgan and Bryson Snelling paired with a Kremer putback led off the run. Then Bussey’s corner 3 capped the run for a 58-31 lead.

PV outscored Corning 27-7 in the third quarter which eventually led to a running clock. The VIkings led by as many as 42 points. Jacob Martin and Bussey scored 10 points apiece.

“I don’t think we did a great job in the first half,” said Vikings head coach Tim Keating. “Corning came out inspired and played hard. They had a little more intensity than us and I have to give credit to my alma mater.”

Keating graduated from Corning High in 1982 so playing against the Cardinals always means a little more, he said.

“There’s kids on the (Corning) team where I know their parents,” Keating said. “They’re working hard to build that program and they’re doing a great job.”

Corning was led by Bennett who scored 18 points and Janda added 12. The Cardinals end the season 7-18.

“We got a little tired, and it was an intense game. But these guys played so hard,” Borer said. “I’m so proud of these kids. They never backed off and it was one of the best games I’ve seen them play.”