Quoth the Rayven, “Nevermore, Bethesda”

By Brandon Petersen

With his point guard on the hunt for the Westcliff's all-time scoring record, Rayven Turner quietly went about his own business Monday night at JLAW, turning in a game-high 24 points and hitting a key three that helped lift the Warriors over Bethesda, 76-71.

Micaiah Hankins is tantalizingly close to breaking Josh Harrison's all-time scoring mark, in fact, after his 10 points Monday, he is currently tied with Harrison.

But with the game within a bucket and just 58 seconds left, Hankins drove the lane and kicked out to Turner who was wide open for a three that made it 72-67.

The Lion Angels wouldn't threaten thereafter.

"It's great to start the year with a win," Westcliff head coach Jerred Cook said. "Especially after the way we lost our last game. So, getting back out here, dusting the cobwebs off, we have to make sure that we learn from this win, because we still came up short in some areas we've been trying to preach."

Turner, the current Cal Pac defensive player of the week, went off on the offensive end, finishing 4-of-7 from range (6-of-14 from the field) and 8-of-9 from the stripe.

Hankins, meanwhile, doled out five assists and ripped a pair of steals, two categories he already holds Westcliff's all-time records in.

Aaron Strings had a big night for the Warriors as well, finishing with an efficient 14 on 5-of-9 from the field including a three, four rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals.

Evan Hoosier and Jeramiah Paulino both turned in nine.

"We're still not there in terms of our connectedness and sharing the basketball to get the right shots that we want," Cook said. "And defensively, we're still having some lulls from some different things that are slowing us down.

"Glad to have a couple of weeks to get some practices in. We have one more and then conference begins. We're just trying to make sure that we build on the good habits and get rid of the things that will force us to lose down the stretch."

The Warriors (4-5) will host Nobel on Jan. 15, with Cal Pac play to begin three days later against La Sierra.