(Mesa, AZ) The final game of the first day of the CAL-PAC Conference Tournament pitted #3 Westcliff Warriors against the #6 Simpson Red Hawks.
Both team came out flying up and down the court at tipoff, but their shooting couldn’t sustain the high energy.
Neither team separated themselves until around five minute left in the half when Westcliff went on a 9-2 run and went up by 29-20.
It was still in single digits at the half with Westcliff leading 33-24.
The Warriors led in most statistical categories shooting 40% from the field to 36% for Simpson, but the Westcliff put up ten more shots and a six rebound edge 22-16.
One noticeable observation is that Simoson had only nine players dressed out.
Points in the paint the Warriors had a huge advantage 24-10.
Westcliff got nine points on turnovers to zero for Simpson and that was the difference in the first half.
In the early part of second half, Simpson had worked out few kinks where they got better looks at the basket and had caught up on the glass 23-23 at the fourteen minute mark.
Midway through the half, the Red Hawks made a move and trailed by six 49-43 and a two possession game.
The game went back and forth and the Westliff lead never exceeded eight points until five minutes left they got back up by double digits 57-45.
Simpson with their short bench, ran out of gas as Westcliff went up by fourteen 60-46 and only 3:24 left in the grams.
The Warriors just used the clock the rest of the way and cruised to a 71-57.
Click on Logo
