venice loses day two

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SoCalHoops Tournament News

Reebok Holiday Prep Classic: Venice
Loses To So. Mtn In OT--(Dec. 20, 1999)

Game No. 37 of the Reebok Holiday Prep Classic, a Bronze Cup game between Venice (5-4) and Arizona's South Mountain (5-7), got underway today at 11:25 a.m. this morning at the Durango Main gym, and as hot as Venice was on Saturday, they struggled today, losing 50-43, and reliquinshing a 9 point halftime lead in a low scoring game. This was a game plagued by turnovers on both sides, and Venice had 20 total turnovers while South Mountain had 18. And while Venice had more players score in double figures, South Mountain had better balanced scoring from more guys. Ultimately while the game ended at 40 points each in regulation, South Mountain outscored Venice 9-2 in the additional period to move on in the winner's bracket and remain in contention for the Championship of the Bronze Cup on Wednesday. If Venice now wins it's remaining two games, the best they can finish is 5th or 6th in the Bronze Cup.

For Venice, Kyle Morrison, usually a prolific scorer and a smooth shooter, led all scorers in the game with 13 (see, we said this was a low scoring game), and both Montell Duhon and Anthony Alexander only had 11 points each. The only other scorers for Venice were Kevin Eleby, with four points, and Lyman Edwards with 4 as well. Venice did manage 17 steals in the game, which is something of a record at this tournament, and Lyman Edwards (who was one of the Bronze Cup assist leaders through the games played Saturday) gave himself a stat boost with 6 steals, while Kyle Morrison had 5 steals as well.

But the real key to this game was not Venice's defensive pressure, which was good, but their lack of ability to put the ball in the basket, especially in the overtime. Kevin Eleby shot only 1 for 12 from the field; Montell Duhon was 3 for 14, Lyman Edwards only 2 for 7, and even Kyle Moreison was only 6 for 13. As a team, the Gondoliers shot only 25% from the field (14 for 56), and 14% from three point range (2 for 14), and they didn't get a lot of rebounds either, getting just 29 to South Mountain's 39 boards. Venice's free throw shooting was also horrible and probably cost them the game: In the first half, the Gondoliers shot 1 for 5 and in the second half shot only 1 for 9, which would have been more than enough to close the gap and change the game. Oh well. . .

South Mountain, which advances in the winner's bracket, was led by Andre Mason, who finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals. Mason was selected MVP of the game.

Venice will move on to play tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. at Durango against the loser of game #33, Chapparal, which lost by two points to Smokey Hill this morning.

See you there.