January 31, 2006
Slugs Split Road Trip

After their thrilling victory against the powerful Chapman Panthers 72-66, the Slugs had only one week to celebrate as they were off to So Cal to take on the Panthers again.  However, this time the result would be different as they were knocked off 58-80.

 This game started out much like the last one as the Panthers jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead before the Slugs would regroup and come back and make a game of it. 

This time the Panthers would not let the Slugs’ leading scorer (33 points last game) get off as they would limit him to 7 first half points.   However, some of his teammates stepped up to take on some of the load.  Jon Mercado, the Slugs’ second leading scorer stepped up and chipped in 11 first half points while Jon Miller and Nick Hollad-Lassister added 6 points each to keep the Slugs in the contest, 37-42 at the end of the half.

In the second half the Slugs came out battling and eventually tied the game at 46.  The next several minutes would see the game tied on several occasions, but Chapman’s size and maturity would take over and the Panthers would start pounding the offensive boards (43-23 advantage) and finally figure out the Slugs’ press and pull away.  Three Slugs would finish in double figures, Herrera; 10 points, Mercado; 16 points and Miller; 12 points.

After the game, Coach Johnson commented on how they just never could get the lead and stated, “If we could have ever taken the lead instead of playing from behind, this could have been a different game”.

 The next night the Slugs traveled to Riverside to take on La Sierra Golden Eagles and knocked them off 86-77.  This was a great bounce back game stated Coach Johnson.  “After a tough loss last night I felt the guys really stepped up and showed they have grown as a team”.

 The Slugs jumped out the gates behind their relentless pressure defense and forced the Golden Eagles into numerous turnovers in the first half and took a 12 point margin in the locker room, 47-35.

The second half was much like the first as the Golden Eagles would again struggle with the Slugs’ pressure and the Slugs would cruise into a 86-77 victory.  The Slugs would have five players in double figures with Jimmy Herrera leading the way with 23 followed by Jon Miller; 15 points, Jarrod Heredia; 13 points, Jon Mercado and Bryan Maeda with 10 each.

“This was a good win for us to get back on track and hopefully finish the season improving each game.”  “The last time we made this road trip we lost both games, so this was big for us.”

The Slugs take on Golden State Bible College at 7:00 pm for their final home game (Senior Night) of the regular season.