Powdrill Heats Up for Glendale College

GLENDALE —  For better or worse, guard Clayton Powdrill of Glendale College has a reputation as a streaky shooter.

In his first game against Valley in January, Powdrill made only one of 12 shots and finished with five points--one of his worst performances of the season.

But Powdrill was in prime form in the rematch and Glendale responded with one of its most impressive efforts of the season.

Powdrill scored 33 points, including seven of nine three-point attempts, for the Vaqueros in a 104-82 victory over Valley in a Western State Conference Southern Division game at Glendale.

The sophomore, a former Kennedy High player who transferred from Bakersfield College, made 10 of 12 shots from the field and all six of his free-throw attempts.

It was the most points a Glendale player has scored this season.

“He’s a very streaky shooter,” Coach Brian Beauchemin of Glendale said. “When he’s on, he can be very good.”

Powdrill scored 19 points in the first half to help the Vaqueros (21-6, 7-2) open up a 50-40 lead.

He scored eight of his team’s last nine points in the half, including a three-point basket from 25 feet with four seconds remaining.

Valley (20-8, 7-2), which fell into a tie for first with Glendale in the WSC Southern Division, never came any closer after that.

As happy as he was with his performance, Powdrill was more excited about what the victory meant to the team.

“Statistics don’t mean much to me,” he said. “It’s always a bigger plus to win. I could score five points and if we won I’d still be happy.”

Four other Glendale players scored in double figures, including Mike Mason with 13 points and Matt Moore with 12.

The Vaqueros made 35 of 57 shots from the field (61.4%), including 10 three-point baskets.

“Valley’s a tough basketball team,” Beauchemin said. “But this was a game we had to have.”

Valley was led by Felix Lang with 18 points and Issac Williamson with 17. But the Monarchs made only 31 of 72 shots from the field (41.7%).

Beauchemin said the victory was essential for the Vaqueros because they have a difficult matchup against Santa Monica, ranked No. 8 in the state by the J.C. Athletic Bureau, Saturday at Santa Monica.

“This is a real strong conference,” he said. “You’ve got to win your games at home.”