WILDCAT MEN SURVIVE CCAA TOURNEY OPENER
March Madness is about surviving and advancing.....the Chico State men were the definition of that on Tuesday night.
Despite 21 turnovers and twelve missed free throws the Chico State men outlasted Stanislaus State in overtime 75-73. The Wildcats trailed for much of the game and at times couldn't get out of their own way, but with their CCAA Tourney life hanging in the balance the Cats made their biggest plays of the night.
Down eight (61-53) with under five minutes to go the Wildcats would rally with an indominable will to win. Chico would survive three point blank Warriors looks with under 7 seconds to go. Kevin Warren led Chico with 21 points. Justin Briggs scored 12 points pulled 6 rebounds and blocked four shots, while changing several other attempts with his 6'10 frame. Gritty point guard Isaiah Brooks shook off a second half tumble to score 10 points dish off 4 assists and Calvin Geraci scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting and 3-of-4 from deep.
Chico will now head to La Jolla and RIMAC Arena where they will play Cal Poly Pomona for the third time this year. The Broncos have won the previous two match-ups. A Wildcat win puts them in the CCAA title game. The game will be broadcast on KPAYSPORTS 1290am at 11:35am on Friday morning with tip-off set for 12 noon. You can also hear the game by hitting the LISTEN LIVE tab on this page. The game is also available on the KpaySports app that you can download for free in the app store and on your Amazon Alexa with the skill of "Alexa, play KpaySports dot-com."
CHICO STATE WOMEN SEE SEASON COME TO AN END
It was an amazing late season run for the Chico State women winning six in a row to secure a home playoff game, but in the end they had no answer for nearly a flawless 1st half from the Cal State East Bay Pioneers in the 1st Round of the CCAA Basketball Tournament.
While the Cats came out tentative, East Bay came out looking for a fight and they took it to the Wildcats building a 12-point 1st quarter lead and then stretching that lead to 47-20 by halftime.
The 78-53 final score was not indicative of the great year the Wildcat put together as Chico won 18 games and surged to a 4th place finish in the CCAA.
The game ended the amazing career of senior Madison Wong who finished her Wildcat career with 226 three-pointers. That whopping number is not only the best in Chico State history but its the most in CCAA history. She also nailed 87 three's during the 2019-2020 campaign setting a single season mark.
The Cats finish the season at 18-11
SCOREBOARD FOR STATE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Division III BOYS
#8 Pleasant Valley 58 #9 Central Catholic 55
#11 Foothill 68 #6 Palma 51
Division V BOYS
#1 Pierce 61 #16 Durham 46
#5 Eastside Prep 62 #12 Oroville 48
Division IV GIRLS
#5 Pleasant Valley 52 #12 El Dorado 46
#2 Argonaut 64 #15 Chico 49
Division V GIRLS
#6 Gridley 63 #11 Durham 30
#3 Monte Vista Christian 64 #14 Colusa 32
SOCCER
Pleasant Valley Girls 3 West Valley 0
Chico High Girls 8 Ben Holt 0
Cardinal Newman 4 Pleasant Valley High Boys 3
Encina 2 Corning Boys 1
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICO STATE ATHLETICS http://www.chicowildcats.com
