‘Miss, or not to miss?’ ain’t the question

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: February 18, 2023

2022-23 COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL

ECS staff report

FLETCHER HILLS – Despite what nearly every basketball coach in the world preaches, there is good time to miss a free throw. And Grossmont College’s Sammy Stewart IV know it.

Stewart made a tie-breaking foul shot with four seconds remaining in Friday’s (Feb. 17) Pacific Coast Athletic Conference contest. Then he missed the next shot.

However, all was right in the world. Not only did Stewart intentionally miss the charity toss, he also recovered the ball for the decisive offensive rebound, leading the Griffins to a dramatic 91-90 verdict over visiting San Diego Mesa.

Stewart was foul again with the clock ready to expire and again intentionally missed, which might effect his individual statistics, but the coaching staff can tell recruiters that he was all about the team.

Stewart finished with 16 points, while guard Daevin Celaya came off the bench to register a team-best 20 points.

Grossmont, in snapping Mesa’s 5-game winning streak, dropped the Olympians into a three-way tie for third place in the PCAC at 10-6 with Palomar and Southwestern, with Grossmont finishing behind the trio to complete the regular season.

The 10 wins in conference play by Mesa is the school’s first double-digit total this century, but with 8 last-place finishes during that 22-year span, it wasn’t surprising either.

SD Miramar 80, Cuyamaca 47

MIRA MESA – Although San Diego Miramar and San Diego City split their season series, City also dropped a 10-point decision to Palomar , giving Miramar Jets the PCAC crown after washing over visiting Cuyamaca College, 80-47.

Miramar failed to supply a boxscore, one statistic is known: the Coyotes closed the season with a 1-8 record dropping seven of those games by 19 or more, including four by more than 30 points and three others by 20-plus points.