Big games call for big plays.   Just ask Jared Stigall.   The freshman guard made the biggest play of the season last Friday night, Jan. 19, at Hutchison Gym when he hit the game winning three-point shot with .01 seconds remaining, keeping the American River College men's basketball team in the hunt for a championship.

"We have high expectations," Head Coach Mark Giorgi said.   "This is a solid bunch of guys with great team chemistry, they play hard and for each other."  

The game was a seesaw battle from start to finish between conference rivals American River and San Joaquin Delta College.   ARC went up early with some slick shooting by Texas (S.A.) bound Joey Shank and freshman guard Tyler Brown, but turnovers gave Delta the lead mid-first half.   The Mustangs held a 37-31 lead through the break.

To the start of the second half, the Beavers kept it close and took the lead back with 12:22 left, but high-

flying Delta wouldn't stay down for long. The momentum started swinging their way as the pace picked up and a two-handed jam by the Mustangs Michael Nunnally rocked the crowd.   With 7:15 to go, Delta again took the lead and held it until the end.

Down by five points with less than a minute to go, Joey Shank drew a foul and hit both free- throws pulling the Beavers to within three.   ARC quickly regained the ball back, but blew a lot of time trying to put it back in Shank's hands.   With the clock winding down to around 18.0, freshman guard Jared Stigall took it to the hoop and was fouled.   After making one of two free- throws, the score was now 62- 64 Mustangs.  

It looked as though this one was over with only 16.8 seconds left in regulation.   That is, until the Beavers got the ball.   With Stigall again at the handles, he quickly pushed it down court. Looking to pass with nobody open he made his move.   He looked inside, to the left, then crossed over

hard to the right and let it fly knocking down the deep three.

"I just looked at it, shot it, and it went in," said Stigall.   "It feels great and I'm just glad we won."   He also was fouled on the shot and converted the four- point play.

Though outshined by the finale, the best performance of the night belonged to Tyler Brown who scored 24-points and grabbed 11 rebounds.   Joey Shank dropped 20 points and Stigall finished with 10 points.       

Before the game, Head Coach Mark Giorgi said this one was particularly important in regards to the Big-7 standings.   He was right.   The victory put the Beavers (16-10, 3-2) in a four-way tie for second place with San Joaquin Delta, Sierra, and Santa Rosa College.

The Beavers next home game will be Feb. 2., at 6 p.m. in Hutchison Gym.   They'll battle Santa Rosa Junior College again, for the fifth time this season.   ARC won all four previous meetings.