Rutledge sets new Yuba marks
Mareceo Rutledge scored 30 points and broke Yuba College's single-season record for 3-pointers and points as the 49ers' men's basketball team ended Bay Valley Conference play with a 92-87 victory over visiting Marin on Wednesday.
Rutledge, a freshman, entered the game with 107 3-pointers and shattered Trent Tilby's mark of 110 by ending with seven long balls. Tilby set the mark in the 1988-89 season.
Rutledge followed his record-setting 3-pointer with a fast-break dunk to break Charles Johnson's 1980-81 mark of 710 points. Rutledge now has 725 points this season. He hit his first three 3-point attempts and finished 7-of-14 from beyond the arc and 10-of-17 in all. He also hit 3-of-3 free throws.
The always humble Rutledge gave his teammates a lot of credit for his success.
“They do a good job of getting me open and getting me the ball,” he said. “But I've been working on (my shot) in practice, working on my conditioning and getting my legs stronger so I can have a better jump shot.”
Yuba managed to hang on to the win despite a late charge from Marin, led by guard Michael Toussand, who scored a game-high 37 points - 25 in the second half - and punished the 49ers inside despite standing 6-feet tall.
The Mariners trailed the entire game but got within five four times late in the second half. Yuba hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final 28 seconds to seal the win.
Yuba coach Doug Cornelius wasn't at all pleased with the way his team played.
“We were awful, terrible,” he said. “They scored 20 points over what we should have give up. Maybe it was the 5:30 p.m. start, or because I switched the starting lineup, but there is no excuse for our energy level.”
Cornelius said his team certainly needs to play better in the postseason if it wants to break the all-time win mark of 24. Yuba is 23-9 overall and finished BVC play at 12-3.
The 49ers will find out Monday where they will travel in the opening-round postseason game.
Yuba post B.J. Visman couldn't be stopped in the second half, scoring 18 of his 23 points against a smaller Marin squad. Visman cleared 11 rebounds and blocked two shots.
Aaron Garner added 13 points, including three 3-pointers. The 49ers knocked down 12 3s in the game.
Yuba used a 10-0 run in the first half for a 33-17 lead. Rutledge capped the run with his record-breaking trey from the corner with 6:31 remaining.
Two minutes later, Rutledge took a pass on a fast-break and threw down his second dunk of the season to set the single-season scoring record.
“And he still has at least one more game to build on it,” Cornelius said. “He's the most unbelievable find, and the best thing is, he's only a freshman.”
Toussand scored six points during a 9-2 run that cut Yuba's lead to 41-36 with 34 seconds remaining before the half. Two of the buckets were driving layups.
“We weren't playing any defense, and they were able to blast right past us,” Cornelius said.
Marin guard J.T. Lewis added 13 points, and Brandon Miller finished with 12.
Appeal-Democrat reporter Justin Miller can be reached at 749-4796. You may e-mail him at jmiller@appealdemocrat.com
