Piner loses first of boys' basketball season

Luke Devenny, Piner's premier center, is very familiar with El Cerrito's all-league center Daymon Warren. The two have squared off a number of times in AAU play.

Devenny is Piner's top scorer and Warren is the Gauchos leading scorer. So, it figured the game could well be decided by the play of the two big men -- didn't happen. While Devenny and Warren virtually neutralized each other, it was the spirited fourth quarter play of Ken Rancifer and Alex Harris that made the difference in El Cerrito's 58-46 win at Piner.

Devenny had his usual double-double with 22 points and 10 rebound, plus three blocks. Warren, who averages 19 points, finished with 24 and seven boards.

With the game even at 38-38 early in the fourth quarter, Warren nailed a 3 off the fast break with the assist going to Harris. Then Rancifer had a driving basket, and Harris added a long 3-pointer. The Gauchos then controlled the remainder of the final quarter to improve to 4-2. It was Piner's first loss. The Prospectors dropped to 5-1.

In the fourth quarter, Rancifer had eight of his 10 points, including a pair of follow-up jams. Harris had four of his eight points and three assists in the final five minutes.

"They were a pretty athletic team," said Piner coach Mike Erickson. "We didn't shoot the ball very well."

Despite the 5-1 start, Erickson said, "We've got to get a lot better, our league is going to be real good. I think, though, we are going to be OK, we just have to get tougher."

Piner led 15-8 after one quarter. Leading 9-8 with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter, Chris Malicay drained consecutive 3-pointers after Devenny finished an inside move with a left-handed floater.

Warren nailed a three to start the second quarter, Shaun McCoy hit a mid-range jumper, and Warren dropped in a free throw to give the Gauchos their first lead in the game. But El Cerrito rallied back to lead 24-21 at the half and 38-34 after three quarters.

"When we play our game, we can hang with anyone," said El Cerrito coach Rodrick Battle. "Tonight our defense was the key."

Battle said he knew stopping Devenny was essential for the Gauchos to win.

"We started thinking we could just play Warren on him, and Warren would hold his own. But as the game progressed we started to double-down on him. We kept the pressure on him the whole game.

Piner fired away frequently from beyond the arc, but connected on only 3-of-14. Malicay had two of three, while Andrew Flohr hit one in the fourth quarter that got the Prospectors to within 43-41. It was the closest they got in the final eight minutes. El Cerrito finished with a rush, scoring the game's final nine points.

Malicay and Simon Semere each had six points for Piner.

"This was a good game for us to win," Harris said. "It was an excellent win. Our defense in the fourth quarter made the difference."