VIKING BOYS, BLUE KNIGHTS PUT ON A SHOW
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(3/28/08 Chico, CA) An enjoyable time was had by everyone in attendance as the Pleasant Valley boys' varsity basketball team took a 57-40 win over the Blue Knights of the Chico Police Department in a fundraising game for the Pleasant Valley Sports Boosters Friday at Varley Gym.
 
Anthony Carter opened the Vikings' scoring with a basket 38 seconds into the game. Lt. Mike O'Brien gave the Blue Knights their first points of the game when he made three free throws with 5:25 remaining in the first quarter as PV maintained a 4-3 lead. A bucket by Jaycob Velasco with 3:48 to go in the first put the Vikings up 8-3. Ofc. Andrei Carlisle made a pair of free throws with 2:15 left in the period as the CPD came within a point at 8-7.
 
Ofc. Steve Duitsman hit a shot with 6:56 remaining in the second quarter to pull the Blue Knights within eight points at 17-9. David Simmons responded with a basket of his own 10 seconds later as Pleasant Valley took a 10-point advantage. Ofc. Dale Prosise connected on a hoop with 3:40 to go in the first half as the Chico Police trailed 21-15. The Blue Knights came within two points at 24-22 as Ofc. Rich Hartman made a bucket with 30 seconds left until halftime.
 
The Vikings opened up the second half with a shot by Simmons 39 seconds into the third quarter as PV went up 28-22. Prosise made a basket 30 seconds later for the CPD's first points of the half. Velasco's bucket with 3:02 remaining in the third pushed the Vikings' advantage to 34-26. A three-pointer by Bren Haley with 1:57 left in the period extended Pleasant Valley's lead to 39-26.
 
A pair of free throws by O'Brien 27 seconds into the fourth quarter cut the Blue Knights' deficit to 41-30. Velasco made a hoop with 6:13 remaining in the contest to give the Vikings a 43-35 lead. A three from Sean Reynolds with 3:17 to go in the game gave PV a 48-37 lead. The final tally came on a free throw by O'Brien with 30 seconds left.
 
Reynolds led the Vikings with 15 points. Velasco scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Haley added nine points and four rebounds. O'Brien led the Chico Police with 15 points and five rebounds. Prosise scored six points and collected four rebounds.