Placer’s Giovanni Roberts shot two three-pointers in the final 40 seconds of Placer’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoff opener Wednesday to lift the Hillmen over Rio Linda, 61-60 at Placer High School.
Zethan Dumpson scored a game-high 23 points for Rio Linda, but struggled with Placer’s swarming defense at every possession. After scoring 20 in the first half, Placer held him to just four third-quarter points. He went scoreless in the fourth quarter.
The Knights led 41-33 moments into the second half and enjoyed a 56-49 lead with five minutes to go, but Placer roared back with an 8-4 rally to win the game.
Placer tied the game from long range with 39 seconds to play, and then made another with 26.2 seconds remaining. Rio Linda missed its final two shots.
Placer will face Inderkum in the second round.
The Lady Knights will face Oakmont at home TONIGHT, Thursday February 25th at 7 p.m. The teams have not met this year, but they used to be league rivals where the Knights own a 9-6 lead in the series and won the last matchup, 60-38, back in 2014.
Rio Linda is the third seed in the Div. III bracket. The Knights own a 17-11 overall record this season with notable wins over Del Oro, Pleasant Grove, River Valley and River City.
(Photos via Jerry Huffines, Facebook)
