Riverside, - Calif. Golden West finished their 2013 season No. 2 in the state, falling 11-9 to Long Beach City College in overtime. The men's season ended with an overall record on 24-4 and maintain their OEC Championship Title for the 25th consecutive year, while also taking home the second place hardware in the Southern California Regional's Championships.
Facing Long Beach for the fourth time this season, the Rustlers came out of the gate strong, maintaining the lead throughout the first quarter. A steal by Ari Marks set Tommy Grall up for the first net of the game. Marks then got a shot in of his own to put the Rustlers up two on the Vikings. Next to score for Golden West would be Laszlo Nagy and Grall again, who made the offensive play recovering a Rustler missed shot. With 14 seconds left in the first, Fletcher Norseen stole the Long Beach ball, passing it to John Lovat who put the score at 5-3 with a cross cage shot.
With missed scoring opportunities in the second quarter, Long Beach narrowed the Rustlers' lead by 2. As the time was running down in the half, Lovat drew a Viking ejection, putting Golden West on a power play situation where freshman Aaron Polk scored on a near side shot with 6 seconds left in the quarter to put the Rustlers up 6-5 going in to halftime.
Long Beach, scoring on back-to-back possessions, took the lead for a moment in the fourth quarter, 6-8. But Golden West answered with a shot from Marks outside 7-meters with 3:10 left in the game brought the Rustlers within one. With time running out and tensions on overload, Lovat tied the game again at 8-8 with 2:22 on the clock. Golden West pressed in, capitalizing on their last possession with a score by Polk. Long Beach would have the last word in tying the game again 9-9 with just :26 seconds left to go in regulation.
In overtime, the first of two periods came and went without breaking the knot. Long Beach called a timeout after a backcourt exclusion on Golden West, giving the Vikings a power play situation, and the chance to score. Long Beach would score again and the 2013 California Community College Championship went home with Long Beach City College.
Laszlo Nagy and Sean Grab were named to the All-State Tournament team.
Golden West College has qualified for the state championship tournament every year since 1978 (25 consecutive years). The Rustlers have competed in the state championship final game 33 out of the past 36 years, and have won an unprecedented 22 State Titles.
