VELASCO'S TWIN 11'S HELP VIKING JV BOYS
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(1/23/08 Chico, CA) An 11-point and 11-rebound effort from Jaycob Velasco paced the Pleasant Valley boys' junior varsity basketball team to a 49-39 win over Red Bluff Wednesday at Varley Gym.
 
Riley Bentley started the Vikings' scoring with a basket 27 seconds into the game. Grant Blaser's hoop with 5:30 remaining in the first quarter gave the Spartans their first points at 5-2. Another basket by Blaser with 3:18 to go in the first brought Red Bluff within a point. Chase Drews' bucket with 2:35 left in the first allowed PV to go up 7-6.
 
The Spartans took an 11-10 lead on a three-pointer by Scott Avery with 6:59 remaining in the second quarter. A free throw by Velasco 34 seconds later tied the contest. Trevor Capik's three with 3:28 to go in the first half gave Red Bluff a 19-15 lead. Capik added another three with 16 seconds left to put the Spartans up 24-20.
 
The Spartans' good fortunes continued when Blaser hit a basket 50 seconds into the third quarter to push Red Bluff ahead 28-20. Velasco responded 15 seconds later with a bucket for the Vikings' first points of the second half. Velasco made another shot with 3:59 to go in the third as Pleasant Valley pulled with two points at 30-28. A pair of free throws from Trevor Miller with 2:16 remaining in the period gave the Spartans a 33-28 lead.
 
Red Bluff was held to only two points in the fourth quarter with the lone basket coming from Kevin Hendricks 48 seconds into the period. The Vikings came within a point at 39-38 when Drews nailed a three-point shot with 6:27 to go in the contest. A hoop by Velasco allowed PV to go up 42-39 with 3:49 left in the game. The final tally came from Bentley's bucket with 1:30 left.
 
The Vikings received 11 points from Drews and 10 points from Bren Haley. Capik led the Spartans with 11 points and Blaser added eight points.