The Los Medanos College men’s basketball team extended their win-streak to five with a 93-78 home victory over Napa Valley College.
Mustangs head coach Derek Domenichelli credited tonight’s win to LMC’s teamplay.
“I think we really played unselfish,” Domenichelli said. “We moved the ball to high percentage shots, we made the extra pass and really played for each other’s teammates. I think our offensive chemistry was really really good all night.”
Point guard Devin Carson had a team-high 35 points, and was the only Mustangs player to record more than 20 points.
While forward Vinny Andrea had 12-points on the night, his points came at a crucial time for the LMC offense. He made three three-pointers to help the Mustangs go on a 15-2 run early in the second quarter. It was on this run the Mustangs took the lead and never relinquished it.
However, until this run, the Mustangs and the Storm traded the lead back and forth. Napa Valley found some success late in the first half and early in the second half with their high-pressure defense. Domenichelli praised his team for not backing down against the Storm’s press defense.
“I thought we did a great job dealing with the pressure,” Domenichelli said. “We got the ball in the middle. We attacked it for layups. We attacked it for wide open shots. Guys were more poised than they were three weeks ago. I was really happy with the way we dealt with the pressure.”
Napa Valley was able to go back and forth with the Mustangs due to LMC struggling on the defensive side of the ball. The Storm took advantage of the space the Mustangs were giving them on offense to either drive to the basket, or attempt an open jump shot. While it didn’t cost the Mustangs the win, Domenichelli said defensive changes had to be made to secure the win.
“We were just not moving our feet real well,” Domenichelli said. “We were opening up and letting guys kind of go by us. We made the adjustment late in the game to double team their point guard and I think that was what turned the game around.”
The win was an important one for the Mustangs as they look to fend off Mendocino who are trying to catch LMC for the second place spot in the Bay Valley Conference. Los Medanos remains two games behind Yuba College for first place in BVC and will host them Friday, Feb. 16. Domenichelli looks forward to the matchup as his team looks to beat a Yuba team that has beaten the Mustangs in their last three matchups.
“It’s just a game like any other one, we gotta try to win it.” Domenchelli said. “They’ve got our number the last three or four times. We’re just gonna have to do a good job at keeping them off the boards. If we could do that we’re gonna be right there with them.”
