SHASTA COLLEGE BLOWS OUT REDWOODS 91-44

REDDING, Calif. – Five players scored in double figures and Shasta College's men's basketball team blistered visiting College of the Redwoods 91-44 Saturday night.

The Knights came alive early on with three straight breakaway layups off steals from lone sophomore Tanner Guinn before exploding for a 22-0 first-half run to separate from the winless Corsairs.

Most of the run came from non-starters as Elijah Ramirez's and-1 bucket in transition sparked the scoring streak across the nearly nine minutes. Freshman Mike Maasen hit two of his team-best five 3-pointers on the run and the Knights pushed in transition with Ramirez setting up freshman Tanner Bidwell and Daniel Kelly added a layup, stretching a seven-point lead to a 40-11 advantage with 4:54 remaining.

"Our starters get us going and we can bring a spark off the bench and that brings up the whole team," said Maasen, who came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points.

Every active player for the Knights scored in the first half, giving everyone crucial experience and playing time in Golden Valley Conference play. Even with reserves seeing the court, Shasta didn't lose much thanks to its commitment in practice and hard work, coach Kele Fitzhugh said.

"That's what happens when you practice hard every day, the second string outworks the first string and it makes it tough when you playa team that's down a little bit," Fitzhugh said. "The reserves don't get much playing time but they did a great job of executing. When you don't get many opportunities, it's easy to go after your own but they stayed within the system."

Maasen and Alessandro Guzzon hit back-to-back 3s to help Shasta go up 49-21 at half. Corey Busta's 3-poitner early in the third put the Knights ahead 32 and the lead never dropped below 30 the rest of the way, extending to as many as 51.

"What gets us really excited is moving the ball, being able to penetrate and get people open for easy shots and gets us fired up," said Guinn.

Guzzon scored 13 points, Guinn pitched in with 12 points and Busta and Brendan Hoag added 11 points apiece.

Shasta hosts Butte College on Saturday at 4 p.m.

GVC Standings
Team GVC, Overall
Butte 5-1, 12-11
Feather River 4-2, 12-7
Shasta 4-2, 6-15
Lassen 3-3, 12-10
Siskiyous 3-4, 6-19
Redwoods 0-7, 0-23