Two-loss Knights fall to Fullerton again

East County Sports staff report

FULLERTON (11-11-2018) – Could this be the signal to a total collapse by the San Diego City College men’s basketball program? After all, they are position at “lucky” No. 13 in the state rankings.

Probably not. However, the Knights did suffer their second setback in as many nights, falling to 4th-ranked and tournament host Fullerton College, 88-77, on the final day of the inaugural Walt Simon Classic on Saturday (Nov. 10).

If it’s not a collapse, then it must be the Hornets jinx because they definitely have City’s number. Last season, the Hornets also defeated SDCC, 78-77, when the Knights went 33-3 and captured 26 consecutive ballgames before falling in the state championship game.

Of course, City nipped the Hornets in the 2017 state title game, 53-51, despite Fullerton controlling the tempo throughout. And they were again able to slow down the Knights.

Meanwhile, the last time SDCC dropped consecutive ballgames came three years ago on Nov. 15-16, 2015, when Grossmont and Citrus both topped the Knights in their own tournament held at downtown’s Harry West Gymnasium on Park Boulevard.

In this go-round against Fullerton, the Hornets held a 39-33 halftime lead, then expanded the margin to 21 points, 75-54 with 7:54 remaining, before coasting to the victory.

Lance Colemen II had his best game as a Hornet, scoring a game-high 31 points with 7 rebounds. Ezekial Alley dropped in 18 points, and former El Cajon Valley Brave Ronne Readus registered a double-double with 14 points with 13 rebounds.

For SDCC (3-2), Kai Huntsberry tallied 16 points, while Adrian Byrd-Jelinek added 15.

In other Fullerton College action, Citrus finished with a 3-0 record after stopping West Hills-Coalinga, 75-63, while No. 7 Saddleback stopped San Diego Mesa, 89-57.

Saddleback 89, San Diego Mesa 57:  In a game dominated by the non-starters of the Gauchos (3-0), Kwan Clements scored 15 points as the bench out-scored the Mesa starters, 46-19, to keep the Olympians (0-3) winless. J.J. Overton tallied a team-high 16 points,, but Saddleback is on probation and is banned from postseason action