Creighton leads California to overtime victory
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter CaliforniaþÄôs head coach Kent McBride talks to his players during a time out against Davis & Elkins during a game at CALU on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter CaliforniaþÄôs Ramon Creighton gets pasted Davis & ElkinsþÄôRickenjee Bellevue for two during a game at CALU on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter CaliforniaþÄôs head coach Kent McBride calls out a play tohis team durina game against Davis & Elkins at CALU on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter CaliforniaþÄôs Nick Miller tries to my a pass around Davis & ElkinsþÄô Kevin Simpson during a game at CALU on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter CaliforniaþÄôs Cordell Smith takes the ball down court as Davis & ElkinsþÄô Kevin Simpson tries to make the steel during a game at CALU on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.
CALIFORNIA – Ramon Creighton is making the transition from high school basketball to the college game look a lot easier than it is supposed to be.
Creighton, a freshman guard for California University, played his high school basketball at Allderdice in the Pittsburgh City League and helped the Dragons to the Class AAAA state championship game last season.
The transition to college basketball has been a smooth one for Creighton as he has been an impact player for the Vulcans and made their transition to a new coach a little more enjoyable.
Creighton scored 27 points – his second consecutive 27-point outburst – and California used some stellar defense in overtime to defeat Davis & Elkins, 100-92, Monday night at the Convocation Center.
It was the home debut of new Cal coach Kent McBride, who spent the last five years with the same job at Concord (W.Va.). McBride spent plenty of time accepting congratulations from friends, family and fans after the game, then turned his attention to his freshman guard.
“Ramon Creighton has been lights-out in the first three games. Let’s be honest, he was the best player we had on the court tonight and he’s only 18 years old,” McBride said. “He wasn’t scared of the moment or of contact.”
The win capped Cal’s stretch of three games in four nights to open the season. The Vulcans (2-1) defeated St. Augustine’s by two points Saturday and have won two in a row. Creighton scored 27 points against St. Augustine’s.
“I wasn’t looking to score at first. I’ll score when the opportunities come,” Creighton said. “I love Cal and I want to be here. Coach McBride came in and he’s running the same offense that we ran in high school, so that has made the transition smooth. It’s like a continuation of what we ran in high school.”
Creighton scored 11 of his 27 points in overtime. He combined with swingman Mike Stevenson, a junior college transfer, to score Cal’s first 14 points of the overtime as the Vulcans opened a quick nine-point advantage after Davis & Elkins (0-1) used a run at the end of regulation to force the extra five minutes.
After Stevenson gave Cal the lead for good with two free throws to open overtime, Creighton make a fast-break layup, converted a three-point play and stepped outside to make a three-pointer that staked Cal to an 89-80 lead. Cal opened the overtime with a 10-1 run.
“We got four straight stops to start overtime. We did it with defense,” McBride said proudly.
Cal had to overcome a fantastic game by D&E forward Kevin Bracy-Davis, who led the Great Midwest Conference in scoring as a junior last season. Bracy-Davis had a game-high 35 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and was a matchup nightmare for the Vulcans. Bracy-Davis, however, was one of five D&E players to foul out.
Cal didn’t convert on enough of the Senators’ fouls. The Vulcans made only 25 of 43 free throws, which opened the door for D&E to erase an eight-point deficit in the final three minutes of regulation. Rickenjee Bellevue muscled his way between two defenders to score from in close with nine second left in regulation to tie the score at 79-79.
The overtime, however, was dominated by Cal, which overcame its own foul issues in the second half. Creighton was one of three players who went to the bench early with four fouls. The Vulcans’ already thin bench was tested even before the game started as Luka Andjusic, the leading returning scorer from last year, was sidelined by an ankle injury and was not in uniform. Then two minutes into the game, starting guard Rashawn Browne left, also with an ankle injury.
The Vulcans’ bench responded by contributing 42 points.
Stevenson scored 15 points and Daniel Sapp had 12. Starting guard Nick Miller scored 13 points. They helped the Vulcans overcome D&E’s edge on the boards as the Senators grabbed 20 offensive rebounds.
“We had so many guys with four fouls,” McBride said. “We went to a zone defense in the second half, not to stop their three-point shooting but to preserve our guys.
“When I was at Concord, we once lost games in a row. One thing I learned from that is you never devalue a win or give one back. We’re going to win ugly.”