Baker has right recipe in Brummel Classic finals

The Saddleback Gauchos won their 11^th consecutive game on Saturday with a 74-64 win over Long Beach City College in the Bill Brummel Classic finals.  Dusty Baker was the catalyst, earning Tournament MVP.                     

Baker was at the top of his game in the finals, finishing with 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting.  He was also a force on the boards, finishing with a team-high 12 rebounds in a game where Long Beach made the Gauchos play until the end.  Baker also showed some promise as a quarterback when he hit Collin Host in stride on a fly pattern from the baseline for an easy basket with under six minutes remaining.  In the final two games of the tournament he had 41 points and 18 rebounds, also collecting four steals in the defensive end. 

Not far behind was Conor Clifford, who had 23 points and 10 rebounds in the finals on 9-of-13 shooting.  For his efforts he was named all-tournament team along with Baker.

If there was a point of concern it was at the free throw line where the Gauchos let the Vikings hang around.  Saddleback made just 21-of-34 from the charity stripe, making only 13-of-22 in the second half. 

With the win, Saddleback is now 16-1 on the season and has won 11 straight games.  It was the fourth tournament the Gauchos have won on the pre-conference schedule (Desert, Palomar, Riverside, Saddleback). 

Saddleback will have next week off for the holidays before hosting College of the Sequoias in a non-conference game on January 3.  Tip time is scheduled for 3:00 PM.