The Cougars topple the Panthers 70-59; SCC led by Duplessis who scored 23 points in the game
Cuesta Holds Off Sacramento City for 70-59 Win
Cuesta defeated Sacramento City 70-59 on November 22, 2024, in a game that saw a dominant second-half performance from the Cougars. Despite a strong first-half effort from Sacramento City, Cuesta's offensive firepower and rebounding advantage helped them pull away in the second half to secure the victory.
First Half: Cuesta and Sacramento City Trade Punches
The game began with both teams playing strong defense, but Cuesta held a slim 26-24 lead at halftime. Alessandro Perotti led the charge for Cuesta, scoring 9 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the opening half. The Cougars struggled with their shooting from beyond the arc, going just 1-for-6 from three-point range, but they found success in the paint with Perotti's inside presence.
Sacramento City stayed within striking distance, with Sidney Duplessis leading the way, scoring 13 of his team-high 23 points in the first half. However, Sacramento City's shooting woes from three-point range (just 4-of-14 in the first half) and poor field goal shooting (26.0% overall) hampered their ability to take control of the game.
Second Half: Cuesta Pulls Away
Cuesta came out of halftime energized, outscoring Sacramento City 44-35 in the second half. The Cougars continued to dominate the boards, finishing with a 49-27 rebounding advantage. Perotti's double-double performance (25 points and 21 rebounds) was a key factor, and Cuesta shot 46.7% from the field, including a strong 72.4% from the free-throw line.
Sacramento City struggled offensively in the second half, shooting just 19-of-73 from the field for the game (26.0%). Despite Duplessis's best efforts, including his 23-point performance, the Panthers couldn't overcome their shooting struggles. Aaron Gillyard added 7 points, but it wasn't enough to close the gap.
Key Performances
Cuesta: Alessandro Perotti had a standout game, finishing with 25 points and 21 rebounds. Corbin Rossi contributed 13 points, and Nikolai Stanic added 9 points and 7 rebounds. Lorenzo Ceffoli and Shinichi Itoh combined for 15 points, while Perotti's 21 rebounds helped secure the Cougars' dominance on the glass.
Sacramento City: Sidney Duplessis led the Panthers with 23 points, but the team's poor shooting performance overall hindered their efforts. Drew McClendon and Jayden Ferreira both struggled offensively, finishing with 8 and 8 points, respectively. Sacramento City's inability to connect from three-point range (8-of-45 for the game) proved costly.
Team Stats
Cuesta: 21-45 (46.7% FG), 7-19 (36.8% 3P), 21-29 (72.4% FT)
Sacramento City: 19-73 (26.0% FG), 8-45 (17.8% 3P), 13-25 (52.0% FT)
