Second-Half Slide Buries Moorpark, 82-69

Against Moorpark College, Eldridge Hodge and David Djolakian brought in the Western State Conference’s new year with a bang--and several swishes.

Hodge scored 24 points and Djolakian had 22 as Glendale College overcame a 10-point deficit Saturday night to beat Moorpark, 82-69, at home in a conference opener.

The WSC, considered to be among the best in the state this season, should provide some interesting battles. Canyons, Santa Monica and Allan Hancock are fielding fine teams. Glendale and Moorpark went to the state playoffs last season, and Glendale (15-2) is off to its best start since 1961.

After a lapse in the first half, the Vaqueros controlled the game. Glendale outscored Moorpark, 20-2, in the first seven minutes of the second half and the Raiders didn’t score their second basket until 11:37 had expired from the clock.

Despite the loss, there is no reason to count out Moorpark (10-6), which took over the tempo early and raced to a 10-point lead. With seven minutes left in the first half, Moorpark’s Todd Johnson hit a pair of free throws, and a minute later Andy Jercha made a three-point jump shot to give the Raiders a 29-19 lead.

But it was Moorpark’s inability to duplicate that performance in the second half, coupled with a strong defensive showing by Glendale, that ultimately led to the Raiders’ loss.

“We didn’t play very well to start,” Glendale Coach Brian Beauchemin said. “But when we countered them, first at the end of the first half, and second, all through the second half, we were able to get off a lot of easy shots.”

After falling behind, Glendale regrouped and regained tempo. Dimitrius Duncan, who had 20 points, trimmed the Raiders’ lead to 34-32 on a free throw with about a minute left in the first half. Jesse Ellis capped the scoring in that half by stealing an inbound pass and making a layup to tie it, 36-36, in the last seconds.

Moorpark continued to slide the rest of the way.

“I’ve got to be happy with the fact that we have played so many games--we played in four tournaments--lately and they were able to come back in the second half,” Beauchemin said.

MOORPARK--Moncure 10, Bussey 11, Jercha 13 and 7 rebounds, Staples 2, Tapia 6, Adams 2, Pugh 7, Inemer 4, Neumayr 14.

GLENDALE--Djolakian 22 and 6 rebounds, Hodge 24 and 8 rebounds, Duncan 20, Ellis 14, Foote 2.