Coyotes turn table, take tourney title

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: November 3, 2024

2024-25 COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL

ECS staff report

SANTA CLARITA – Cuyamaca College faced the exact opposite situation in Saturday’s championship game of the College of the Canyons Tip-off Tournament than they face in the opener.

On Friday, the Coyotes blew a 19-point halftime advantage, yet hing on fr a double-overtime victory.

On Saturday, they flipped sides. Down at the half and trailing most of the way, Cuyamaca stunned the Cougars with a 12-2 run to claim the crown on a 71-63 triumph. BOXSCORE

Cuyamaca (2-0 overall) is undefeated for the first time following the season’s opening weekend for the first time since 2009. Canyons fell to 1-1

With Canyons leading 50-41 with 16:43 remaining, Cuyamaca opened the second half on fire, out-scoring the Cougars 12-2 to grab a 53-52 advantage. The go-ahead basket was scored by forward Quintin Richyardson, who led the Coyoytes with 19 points.

Canyons took answered with a bucket for again lead by a point, 54-53, but Cuyammaca went on a 11-point run for an overall spurt of 21-4 to go up by double figures with 5:54 left.

The all-tournament team was not announced inany COC press release after the ballgame, but our friends at the The Signal newspaper (the Santa Clarita Daily Signal) reported that Richard was selected.

Richardson shot 60 percent fromthe floor (6-for-10, 7-for-7 on foul shots,, and did not commit a turnover.

In addition, Torrean Smalley came off the bench to score 17 points, while starting guard Kenneth Klu added 12.

The homeopener for Cuyamaca will be an all-afternoon affair when they host a tournament next weekeebd. On Friday (Nov. 9), they host CXollege of theDesert at 12 pm., then entertain Mt. San Jacinto the following day, also at 1 p.m.

Cypress 111, Grossmont 62

CYPRESS – The opening of the Grossmont College men’s basketball season couldn’t start was poorer than a 111-62 setback to host Cypress College on Saturday (Nov. 2).