Shoreline men fall short at home against Skagit

SHORELINE

In a seesaw game at home against Skagit Valley College Jan. 19, the Shoreline Community College men’s basketball team came up a little short.

Cardinals guard Chris Zeringer made two out of four free throws in the final seven seconds to help Skagit to a 67-65 win.

After Shoreline’s Justin Grisby pulled up and nailed a 12-footer to tie with 11 seconds left, Zeringer drove to the hoop and drew a foul with seven ticks left.

He made the first shot but missed the second, but got his own rebound and was fouled again. He missed the first shot but made the second with four seconds to go.

Shoreline’s Corey McClain launched a 30-footer at the buzzer but it banked off the rim.

“It wasn’t quite what I wanted,” Shoreline coach Jeff Menday said. “I wanted a shot in closer.”

The second half featured 14 lead changes and 12 ties.

“This team just hasn’t had any luck this year late in the game,” he said. “That’s life.”

Shoreline was without its leading scorer, sophomore guard Parys Fox.

“I thought they played well without their leading scorer (Fox),” Menday said of his team. “He’s out tonight. I have no comment (on why).”

“We just got to simply pick it up on our scoring,” Menday said. “You take 18 points out, you’re in trouble.”

Shoreline, which is fifth place in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges, fell to 2-3 in league play and 10-7 overall. Skagit improved to 2-4 and 5-11.

“Jeff has a good team and it was good to come over here and get a win on the road,” Skagit coach Roger Valentine said. “That’s huge for us. That puts us a little bit in the hunt.”

Shoreline broke out to a 31-25 halftime lead but Skagit rallied early in the second half to go up 43-38.

Shoreline responded with a 12-0 run to take its biggest lead of the game 50-43 with 10:45 left.

But Skagit came right back with a 12-3 run to take a 55-53 lead on a 3-pointer by Cameron Bailey. Skagit held the edge down the stretch, but Shoreline kept tying it up until Skagit hung on at the end.

“We played hard we just didn’t play smart,” Menday said.

JaRon Brown led Shoreline with 23 points. “He needs to stay stronger on the block but he played his heart out,” Menday said.

Jeff Sterling added 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Dolphins.