Foothillers control Colts in Game On Challenge

By ECS Staff
Updated: December 5, 2015

2015-16 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

By Chris Davis
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (12-5-15) — In the second game of the Game On Challenge, the Grossmont Foothillers defeated the Crawford Colts 63-31 behind a near perfect effort of Anteater-to-be TOMMY RUTHERFORD on Friday (Dec. 4) at Grossmont High’s New Gym.

Rutherford went eight of nine from the field, while sitting out the entire second quarter with foul trouble. Tommy, or Tom as he is being listed on the roster, scored a short jumper and a pair of free throws in an abbreviated first half appearance of only six minutes. He was called for two fouls over the course of those six minutes, both on the defensive end of the floor. For the half the Foothillers (2-0) were called for seven total fouls.

It didn’t matter to the 6-foot-10 center as he went off for 14 of his game-high 20 points coming in the third period.

“(Tom) is just steady,” head coach FRANK FOGGIANO stated. “He is harder on himself than anyone else is. He gets down on himself when he gets a foul or does something. Our kids do a really good job looking for him and giving him opportunities.”

The only other Foothiller joining Rutherford in double digits in the scoring column was HUNTER GAINES with 13.

“Hunter shot well in the first half, and he played really good on defense,” coach Foggiano said regarding the junior center.

As a team, the ‘Hillers went 15-of-49 (30.6 percent) from the field.

“We shot the ball pretty good from outside (6-of-14),” the veteran coach declared. “We’re pretty tough when we’re shooting from outside because we have a pretty strong inside game.”

The first quarter saw the Foothillers come out and dominate the defensive side of the floor, allowing Crawford only six points.

“I thought our swarming defense was really tough,” the head coach insisted. The Colts figured out the swarming defense and improved in the second quarter to score 10 points.

“In the second half, we switched to the zone that really confused them,” coach Foggiano commented. The third quarter saw the Colts score just a pair of three-point bombs – one of them coming at the third quarter buzzer.

Crawford was not the only ones that could hit buzzer beaters, as RYAN SHIRLEY’s only points came as he hit a half-court shot at the end of the game.

Grossmont: Tommy Rutherford 20 (9 reb, 3 blks), Hunter Gaines 13 (3 reb, 2 stl, ast), Branik Brown 9 (1 reb), Matt Murray 6 (8 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk), Jeremiah Appleton 4 (3 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl), Ryan Shirley 3 (2 stl, 1 reb), Jonah Hebel 3 (1 reb), Dayveion Crawford 0 (1 ast), Alex Lilliard (1 stl), Demajanae Grant (3 reb), Franklin Golojuch (1 reb), Huntr Mulder (1 reb), Marquise Purnell (4 reb, 1 ast).