City back to PCAC roll; Cougars win; Mesa over Griffs

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: January 23, 2019

2019 COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

SAN DIEGO (2-23-2019) – Coming off a state championship just two seasons ago, it’s been a frustrating season for San Diego City College.

A couple of nice wins get followed with some difficult losses, leaving the Knights hovering with a .500 record over most of the season.

“We have a bunch of players who learned to play different ways in high school,” said freshman forward Robby Robertson, who prepped at Kearny.

“But coach (Mitch Charlens) is getting all of us on the same page and now we’re getting results.”

In anticipation of Saturday’s showdown with preseason favorite Southwestern, San Diego City also moved to 2-0 in South Division play in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference after taking care of visiting Cuyamaca, 73-54, at Harry West Gym.

Robertson paced the Knights with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, but he believes the road to a fourth straight division titles runs through the ballclub’s defense.

“We have plenty of weapons on offense,” Robertson added. “But our offense comes off of our hard work on defense. If we can make stops, then we can win.”

City demonstrated its defensive ability to slow the visiting Coyotes, forcing 20 turnovers. Several came during a stretch with the Knights went on a 15-3 run to pull away for the comfortable victory.

Moses Smith kept Cuyamaca close, making all four of his shots from the field in scoring 9 points in the first ja;f, limiting City’s lead to 33-23. The Coyotes then moved to within 57-51 with 11 minutes remaining, then the Knights scoring run ended any upset hopes from the visitors.

For City (11-9 overall, 2-0 PCAC), Joseph Riley added 10 points and three steals, while guard Nashom Carter added 9 points and 5 assists.

Cuyamaca (3-17, 0-2 PCAC) saw guard Frankie Gutierrez registered a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists. SMith added 13 points, and Chris Stanek had 10.

After defeating Cuyamaca, the Knights have now won 30 straight (and 44 of 46) PCAC contests The last loss: the final game in 2014-15 to Southwestern, 70-65, which allowed the Jaguars to be crowned conference champions.

Southwestern 107, Imperial Valley 88: At Chula Vista, the host Jaguars registered at least 50 points in both halves, skating past the Arabs
SWC guard Marq Stephens| poured in 33 points – the second-highest outing of his career, including 23 in the first half, leading the Jags to a comfortable 29-11 lead in coasting to a 56-29 cushion at the intermission.

Stephens also record a team-high 8 rebounds.

Four other Jaguars also scored in double figures. Among the starts, they were Jordan Cooke (15 points on 5-for-6 shooting), and Nathaniel Pearson (14, 4-for-5); and from off the bench, Tyler Simmons (12) and Marc Combs(10, 4-for-6).

In fact, the Jags shot a season-high 63.8 percent (37-58) from the floor, including 69.2 percent (27-for-39) from inside the arc, much on a procession of layins.

For Imperial Valley (7-12, 0-2 PCAC), Timberland Mills tallied 22 points, while Javon Nutter added 19 and Terry Daniels had 15 (6-for-6 FGs) from off the bench.

San Diego Mesa 64, Grossmont 55: At Mesa, the host Olympians moved to 2-0 in South Division play by holding off the Griffins.

No game report was submitted to the CCCAA state website by Mesa.

North Division

San Bernardino Valley 92, Palomar 61: At San Bernardino, the state-ranked Wolverines has the Comets their sixth straight setback in an easy PCAC North Division triumph.

SBVC (15-5 overall, 2-0 PCAC) leaped to a 25-5 lead after just 7:15, when guard Eric Hancik registered 11 of his 18 points. Damani Washington hit 2 baskets during the early stretch, finishing with a team-leading 21 points.

In addition, forward Cameron Butler had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

For Palomar (6-13, 0-2 PCAC), Jamario Harris recorded a game-high 25 point,

MiraCosta 74, Desert 63: At Palm Desert, this contest was level at 35-all just two minutes into the second half before the visiting Spartans erupted on a 28-13 run to subdue the host Roadrunners.

Following a free throw, Xavier Allison hit a pair of jumpers for 5 points, then Marcus Foster did the same to start the stretch, which eventually reached to a 15-point lead.

Foster led MiraCosta with 16 points, while Allison added one point and 7 assists1. In addition, Devyian Roberson posted 12, and Dirk Helaire Jr had 10.

For College of the Desert, Nicholas Pete hit 9-of-13 shots for his game-best 21 points.

Both ballclubs hold identical records of 10-10 overall (1-1 PCAC).

Mt. San Jacinto 91, Miramar 73: At San Jacinto, Eagles forward Justin Holiday came off the bench to tally a game-high 25 points to ground the visiting Jets in a PCAC North Division contest.

Holiday gained 14 of his points in the first half, hitting 6-of-8 shots in helping the hosts control the paint to take a 45-34 halftime advantage.

Miramar struck early to grab a 21-18 lead, but when Holiday entered, Mt. San Jacinto went on an 11-0 run to reclaim the lead at 29-21. Eagles guard

David Thompson aided the takeover, recording a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists.

Mt. San Jacinto (17-2 overall, 2-0 PCAC) also received 15 points from Deshawn Millington.

For Miramar (11-9, 0-2 PCAC), guards Blake Seits (25 points) and Damien Miller (15) played all 40 minutes.

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