The Harvest Song........

HARVEST ROLL OVER HESHIONS, HAVE EYES ON RUNNING THE TABLE?     The Claremont Harvest defeated the La Verne Heshions on Sunday, 45-22 before a good crowd at the Lutheran Gym.  It was their second straight win to start the new year.  Harvest forward Jordan Thomas led all scores with 22 points, shooting 48% from 3 point range.  Steve Rush added a nifty 12 points, as the Harvest have come out of the gate quick!  Their offense is centered around their perimeter game, but their inside presence is what 'cultivates' the victories...no pun intended.  The Heshions were a bit slow at the start, but were able to physically control the first half.  Jeff Andrew's 3 first half blocks set the tone, but the Heshion offense sputtered in the second half.  The Harvest went to work in that 15 minute frame, outscoring their opponent 23-14 and out-rebounding the Heshions 26-17.  We caught up with the President of the Harvest, forward Jordan Thomas after the game, and asked him about the team's fast start:  "We came out with a philosophy in training camp, and our guys really have come together mentally in the last two weeks.  Hats off to the Heshions......they are a good team.  We just were able to grind them down, and really take over in the second half.  When we can get our spacing, and our shots fall for us...we are a tough team to beat.  Those guys did get even with us though.....'cause Ferret gritted all over me during the second game..."     Two weeks, two big wins.  The league has already started to wonder how to beat the Harvest.  For the Harvest....they wonder how to keep this lightning in the bottle.  And not the Vodka bottle... 

GLENDORA BIZARROS FALL TO HARVEST....

The Claremont Harvest defeated the Chino Cowboys last Sunday, 1-0 on a forfiet score.  Chino did not floor a team for warm-ups, and was disqualified after it became apparent that they were not going to show up,...period.  For Claremont, that caps their third win in a row, lifting their record to a league-best 3-0.  After, Chino officials did not immediately return phone messages left by the associated press.  It is unclear what their status for Week 4, when they take on the Heshions.  It was a golden opportunity missed for the Cowboys, as a win would have vaulted them into a tie for first place.  Instead, the loss leaves them 1-2...in a three way tie for second place.

The Glendora Bizarros, a club team composed of different players, stepped in to play the Harvest in an exhibition game for the fans.  They started strong, holding a 16-11 lead at half time.  But the second half was all Harvest, particularly all Simi Simm.  The Harvest power forward had 16 second half points, and exposed the Bizarros in the paint.  This was his second strong showing of the season, and the Harvest look to keep rolling.  F Aaron Christensen also made his debut for the Harvest, scoring 10 points on 5-8 shooting.  Next week, it is a rematch of week 1, as they take on the LV Cutters.

Fans were delighted to watch the exhibition, as one fan remarked: "I love this game!  I spent my money on these tickets, and the Harvest didn't disappoint.  I thought that goofy guy Johnny on the Bizarros was funny too....limping around with his Jack Tripper haircut.  I wasn't very pleased when he flipped off my kids though!!"

WEEK 4:  HARVEST ROLL CUTTERS AGAIN!  G RHETT DELANG 2ND MAN OVERBOARD!!!!!!

The La Verne Cutters were looking to prove to themselves and the league that they were still an MVBA top tier team...

On Sunday, they did little to take up that arguement.

The Claremont Harvest defeated the Cutters Sunday, 39-20, in a lop-sided affair before a mediocre crowd at the Lutheran Gym.  The Cutters went down early, and were unable to get much of anything going against a tough Harvest Defense.  The Harvest made it four straight victories, improving their mark to a league best 4-0.  They hold a full 3 game lead over the second place Heshians, and show no signs of wear just yet.  Jordan Thomas finished with 17 points and 4 rebounds, while Simma Sim continued terrorizing the league with a game high 21 rebounds!  Steve Rush added a cool 8 points, as the perimeter game for the Heshians was, once again, good as gold.  They finished the game 10-29 (38%) from 3-point range as a team, which was up 12% from their last win.  Aaron Christensen collected 7 rebounds, and continued to play well inside the up-tempo Harvest Offense.  "We have had success in softening up the middle early in games, particularly in this one," said Christensen after the game.  "When we can get physical down low, it seems like teams load up down there....and we are able to get our open shots from beyond the arch later in the game.  If we knock those shots down, then we are gonna be awefully tough to beat.  I didn't even break a sweat, which is more than I can say for that guy Ferret."

Dan Park, F, played for the Rancho Busters and the La Verne Heshians before giving way to heart palpitations.

For the Cutters, the game marked the return of G Matt Clement.  He had been sidelined the last two weeks, with a groin strain and a drunken stooper in weeks 2 and 3 respectively.  Clement played 19 minutes, scoring 6 points, and collecting 4 rebounds.  All seemed well in the Cutter's camp before the game, as the Clement controversy was dying out.  The new controversy seemed to center around G Rhett DeLang, who was not present during warm-ups....and was not present during the game.  Although he appeared in the closing seconds of the game, he declined comment.  So did captain Chris DeLang....who said..."We do our dirt In - house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  GET THAT CAMERA OUT OF MY FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  Needless to say, the Cutter's defense and rebounding was far from average in Week 4.  Despite getting their star player back, their defense faltered.  The Cutters were out rebounded 45-20 in 30 minutes of play on Sunday....a grim reminder that their roster has major flaws.  Hopefully the Cutters can 'cut their teeth' into the expansion Rancho Busters.  Help me Jamie Gizzie.......you're my only hope!!!!