Beach City Market squared off against ColorWorks Painting in San Diego Hoops play on Jan. 17. Beach City Market won the jump, but a steal by ColorWorks Painting kept Beach City Market from scoring. Beach City Market’s Sereeta Jones hit a free throw for the first point of the game but missed her second shot. ColorWorks Painting’s Tom Nagashima hit a three-point shot from the top of the key to put ColorWorks Painting on the board and into the lead.

Three drives on each side netted zero points as both teams stepped up their defense. Beach City Market’s Brian Leigh made a 2-point shot off a rebound to tie the game. ColorWorks Painting’s Martin Cherrier made a 2-point shot under the basket and was fouled. He followed his 2 points with another point off one of his free throws.

Nagashima hit a 3-point shot immediately after to bring ColorWork’s Painting to a 6-point lead. Beach City Market’s Sean Wherley answered with 2 points of his own. ColorWork’s Painting’s Andre Lalias fired back with back-to-back 2-point shots to bring them to an 8-point lead.

Beach City Market’s Craig Ahlston made a 2-point shot under the basket, but was fouled and made an additional point off of a free throw to bring them within 5 points. ColorWorks Painting took a time out with 5 minutes and 54 seconds left in the first half. Wherley hit a 2-point bucket under the basket and was immediately followed by teammate Sergio Villegas, who hit another 2-point shot off a steal and a fast break.

ColorWorks Painting took another time out to try to break Beach City Market’s momentum, as they had just scored 4 points in less than a minute. ColorWorks Painting’s Todd May hit a 2-point shot, but was fouled and also managed to sink one of his 2 free throws for 3 points total. Nagashima hit a 2-point bucket off of his own rebound and then followed it up with a 3-point shot.

ColorWorks Painting’s Jeff Praught hit 2 points and was followed by another 3-point shot by Nagashima to bring them up to 26. Jones hit another 2 free throws in the last few seconds of the half to bring Beach City Market to 14 points. Half time score was 26-14, ColorWorks Painting.

Coming back from the half, ColorWorks Painting and Beach City Market traded shots before Beach City Market’s Villegas made 3 points off of three different sets of free throws. Jones hit a 3-point shot from the top of the key, bringing them up to 34. Wherley followed with a 2-point shot of his own.

ColorWorks Painting answered back with 4 points, 2 by Praught and 2 more by May, giving ColorWorks Painting a 6-point lead. Villegas then made 3 more points off free throws to bring Beach City Market within 3 points. May scored another 2 points off of free throws before Beach City Market’s Villegas scored the last 2 points of the game. Final score was 44-41, ColorWorks Painting.

Pecs took on The Welch Group in the second game of the night. The Welch Group’s Julio Montano was the first to score in the game, sinking a 2-point shot. He was followed immediately by The Welch Group’s Jason Farr, who also sank a 2-point shot.

Pecs’ Michael Rocklin answered with 2 points, putting Pecs on the board. Pecs’ Chad Hermandorfer made a free throw and then followed it with a basket of his own to bring Pecs into the lead 5-4.

Montano made another 2 points, and the two teams traded baskets for the next 5 shots with scores by Pecs’ Craig Sanders and A.J. Matthews and The Welch Group’s Angel Hernandez, bringing it to a tie game at 11 all.

The Welch Group’s Julio Montano scored next with 3 points and was followed by Farr, who made both of his free throws. Pecs took a time out with 7 minutes left in the half. Farr scored again with a 2-point bucket right underneath the basket. Pecs answered with 2 points by Mike Rocklin, but was in turn answered by 2 good free throws by The Welch Group’s Montano. Welch Group’s Hernandez and Farr scored 9 more points between them while keeping Pecs to only 4 points, all scored by Chad Hermandorfer. Half-time score was 33-17, The Welch Group.

The Welch Group only had five players and no subs but managed to maintain the upper hand throughout the game. The second half was pretty evenly matched with both teams scoring about 30 points each, with the largest lead being 24 points by The Welch Group.

Pecs managed to close the gap a bit but was never able to catch up. In the end, The Welch Group won 65-48.

AAA Mortgage Mart, Beach City Market, Morgan Stanley and The Welch Group are now all tied for first place with a 5-2 record for the season, and Urban Mo’s is in fifth place right behind them with 4-3.