GILROY—Alec Cordova saved his best game for last.
After being held to single digits in the first two games of the 35th annual Bob Hagen Memorial Tournament, Cordova posted a team-high 27 points in the consolation championship game against Santa Teresa Saturday. The Cougar guard had fans going wild as he hit back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers to finish with seven in the game.
“We just came together today as a team and had good ball movement all around and just worked together pretty well,” Cordova said. “We were just going to the open guy and we were just feeling it I guess.”
Cordova and Chad Hartman, who posted 17 points, combined for six first quarter 3-point baskets. The scores built an early lead for the Cougars which the Saints had no answer and they headed into the second quarter down 25-10.
“I’ve just got to give credit to the teammates who were finding open guys for 3s,” Hartman said. “(Then there’s) Alec Cordova with some of the best shooting I’ve ever seen in my life—I guess he must be practicing a lot.”
Xander Bowers found an open Dylan Day for three points to open the second and Santa Teresa’s Cameron Henry immediately answered with a 3-pointer of his own. Bowers swung the momentum back in Christopher’s favor moments later when he caught a pass from Gian Filice and completed the play with a big dunk. Cordova finished off the half with another 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Day finished with nine points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Bowers picked up eight boards, three assists and a steal in addition to 10 points in the game.
Saturday’s contest was the culmination of four straight days of play for the Cougars, which started with a big win over Gunderson on Wednesday. Christopher lost a tough game to Oakwood, 52-44, to open the tournament Thursday and rebounded with 54-46 win over Seaside Friday. The team’s performances over this week, first year Cougar coach Dan Mooney said, is a sign of good things to come for the rest of the season.
“I can’t say enough for these guys; they’ve really bought in quickly,” Mooney said. “(This is a) new team, new coach, new culture—everything is brand new. To have these guys play at this level at this stage of the game with new personnel, I can’t ask for any more. I’m ecstatic.”
Santa Teresa’s best performance came in the third when it posted 13 points—thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Henry to kick things off. Day used his size to his advantage to pick up a big block on the Saints to slow them down, effectively silencing them for over four minutes. Santa Teresa’s Pritpal Bhullar ended the quarter with a three-pointer, but the team still trailed 60-28 at the end of the quarter.
Christopher utilized its bench players against Santa Teresa and they came up big. TJ Cox knocked down two 3-point baskets in the final frame to add to his team’s lead. Brevin Zellinger was stellar defensively and picked up six rebounds in the second half. He also added two points.
“These games are a lot of fun because the whole team got to play,” Hartman said. “It just looked like we were having out there. We’ve got great team chemistry and it really showed.”
Christopher (5-2) will be off Sunday and Monday to prepare for its upcoming finals and will be back in action at 7 p.m. Wednesday to host Soledad in its final game before the Christmas break.
“We’re going to work hard over the Christmas break because that league is hard,” Mooney said. “I think the word has passed that we’re going to be OK. We beat Seaside, they’re in our league. We’re just taking it one step at a time.”
