City led at the half, but falls to Mendocino 82-75; Duplessis powered the offense with 36 points (including 5 three-pointers)
Mendocino Triumphs Over Sacramento City, 80-75
Mendocino secured a hard-fought 80-75 victory over Sacramento City on November 21, 2024, at Mendocino College. The game saw strong performances on both sides, but Mendocino's late-game surge and improved defense in the second half proved decisive.
First Half: Sacramento City Takes a Slim Lead
The game began with both teams trading baskets, but Sacramento City used a strong first-half performance to gain a slight 42-39 lead by the break. Sidney Duplessis led the charge for Sacramento City, scoring 22 points, including five three-pointers. Duplessis also added 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Aaron Gillyard contributed 8 points, and Drew McClendon added 10 points for the Panthers. Sacramento City shot 43.3% from the field and dominated the free-throw line, making 82.4% of their attempts.
Mendocino kept it close behind solid contributions from C.J. Lee, who had 10 points and 7 assists in the first half, and Micah Allen, who added 6 points. However, Mendocino struggled with their shooting, hitting just 1-of-10 from three-point range, and Sacramento City held a slight edge in rebounds (22-18).
Second Half: Mendocino Comes Back Strong
Mendocino came out energized in the second half, taking control of the game and outscoring Sacramento City 41-33. The Eagles' defense tightened, and their offense, led by Rodney Geter, who scored 12 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, fueled the comeback. C.J. Lee continued his strong play, adding 7 more points to finish with 17 points and 7 assists. Mendocino also gained a significant advantage on the boards, outrebounding Sacramento City 47-27.
Despite strong efforts from Duplessis, who finished with 36 points, and Gillyard, who added 13 points, Sacramento City couldn't maintain their lead as Mendocino's late-game offense proved too much. Mendocino also capitalized on Sacramento's turnovers, forcing 13 mistakes and converting those into critical points.
Key Performances
Sacramento City: Sidney Duplessis was the standout for Sacramento City, finishing with 36 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Aaron Gillyard contributed 13 points and 4 assists. Drew McClendon added 10 points and Mulik Johnson grabbed 7 rebounds.
Mendocino: Rodney Geter led Mendocino with 20 points and 11 rebounds. C.J. Lee added 17 points and 7 assists, while Micah Allen chipped in 11 points. Saben Attebery finished with 10 points, including 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.
Team Stats
Sacramento City: 26-60 (43.3% FG), 9-25 (36.0% 3P), 14-17 (82.4% FT)
Mendocino: 28-66 (42.4% FG), 6-22 (27.3% 3P), 18-29 (62.1% FT)
