Mesa sweeps Griffins, Cuyamaca spanked

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: January 24, 2024

2023-24 COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL / MEN’S & WOMEN’S

ECS staff report

MEN

San Diego Meda 68, Grossmont 59

BOXSCORE

FLETCHER HILLS – On the final night of contests in the Pacific Coast Athetic Conference, only one team has lost to lowly (i.e., last place) Imperial Valley College. And they did soethig about it.

San Diego Mesa, which gave the Arabs only their second overall victory this season in a 2-point decision, bounded back to take down host Grossmont, 78-59, Wednesday (Jan.24) at the G-House.

Grossmont heldthe earlylead at 8-6, then Mesa ran off 10 straight points, caped by a 3-point goal byNick Hpodge. Meanwhile, the Mesa defense blanked Grossmont over a 5:21 span to take control.

Steve Stinson led Meda with 17 points, followede by Isaiah Baker (14 from off the bench), Chanel Mballa (13)and Mikeal Pink (12).

Grossmont posted incredible even scoring, as the starting quartet finished with 9,8,7,6 and 6 pointsm while the bencj post highs of 6, 5, 5 and 4 points,

Among the many for the Griffins, the top individual performer hay have been point guard Elijah Williams with 5 assiss and 5 rebounds (plus 7 points).

The deicision sbapped the tie between the schools in the PCAC standings.

Gallery by P.J. Panebianco

San Diego Mirmar 74, Cuyamaca 44

MIRA MESA – The gap etween th Big Three and the rest of the ballclubs in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference became even more pronounced after host San Diego Miramar skated past Cuyamaca, 74-44, in Wednesday’s (Jan. 24) contest.

The Jets (11-9 overall, 6-2 PCAC), the third place squad, leaped to a fast 20 point advantage and were near headed.

Thus, the Coyotes (9-11 overall, 2-2 PCAC) remained third for fourth place with Southwestern at the conclusion of the first round.

In order for Cuyamaca to post a second winning record since 2009, they must post a 5-3 record and win at least one CCCAA state playoff game in order to finish at exactly at .600 (or go 6-2 in conference by upsetting either MiraCosta, San Diegpo City or Miramar).

Individual statistics and game hghlights were not provided by Cuyamaca.

Women

San Diego Mesa 66, Grossmont 54

BOXSCORE

FLETCHER HILLS – In a series which formerly was the best in San Diego County, San Diego Mesa out-scored Grossmont by 8 points in both opening quarters to mount a 16-point advantage by halftime, staving off the Griffins, 66-54, in Wednesday (Jan. 24) Pacific Coast Athletic Conference ballgame.

Both schools, which were warriors against each other in the original South Coast Conference and erly seasons in thr PCAC, are now on opposites of the standings.

Mesa (14-6 overall) are tied for first place wiuth state Top 10 Palomar at 4-0heading into their showdown meeting. Meanwhile, Grossmont (5-14) are 1-4 in PCAC play, despite coming off a school-recdord 104 triumph over Southwestern.

A pair of double-doubles by Mesa’s Alivia Gillespie (20 points, 12 rebounds) and Alethze Marquez (14 points, 13 boards) led the way.

In addition, Rayleen Moreno and Kendal Alloway each added 8 points.

For the Griffins, Pohai Basso registered her season-high in OCAC action with 17 points. She shot 50 percent frm the field, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.

However, the difference was in rebounding, withthe olympians holding a 55-40 advantage.

Also for the Griffins, Janea Wilson provided 14 points, and Allira Martin had 10.