Dan Rasp is a two-time Tom Byron Classic MVP and the Westmont Warriors have two titles to show for it, becoming back-to-back champs after a 80-38 beatdown of Ripon at Murchinson Gym on Tuesday night.
In a lethal combination of offense and defense, the Warriors limited Ripon to under 27 percent shooting on the night while hitting almost 52 percent of their own, including 71 percent from long range.
Westmont’s defense held Ripon to just five points in the first 10 minutes of playing time, and topped that in the second half by allowing a paltry 2 points in the final 10 minutes of the game.
“(Ripon) didn’t play great tonight but I thought that was because of our defense,” credited Westmont head coach John Moore, whose Warriors (7-4, 1-1 GSAC) have now won four straight. “I thought we were really, really good defensively tonight.”
They were good offensively too.
JC transfer point guard and all-tournament selection Chris Jackson led the show, dishing out nine assists.
“All my baskets come off assists, so I couldn’t of done anything without C.J. getting me the ball and Nasa (Sete) had a lot of good passes to me tonight,” said Matt LeDuc, who scored a team-high 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting and was also named to the all-tournament team. “I really thought team chemistry started to build this tournament so I’m really hoping it will carry over.”
All of the Warriors shared the ball, posting 25 assists as a team on 33 field goals, many coming in transition.
(Jackson’s) incredible how he can find us on the break and that’s my favorite spot,” continued LeDuc. “When he gets the ball early and we’re running it’s almost a guaranteed basket.”
On one play, Jackson fed Rasp on a two-on-one break and the tourney MVP threw down a one-handed dunk over Ripon’s Alex Tomsheck.
“It felt good after I fell – that was pretty embarrassing,” admitted Rasp, who had lost his balance on an earlier two-handed dunk and fell untouched to the floor.
“I really had to make up for that because it was the worst play of my career. It felt good to get down a clean dunk.”
Ripon’s all-tournament team member, Scott Gillespie, scored a team-high 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
It was Westmont’s 18th Byron Classic title in its 33 years.
The Warriors can keep the momentum going when they return to GSAC play on Saturday with another home game at 7:30 p.m.
