Griffins, Coyotes on historic starts

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: December 1, 2024

Grossmont College hosting El Camino / Photo by P.J. Panebianco /Vanilla Gorilla Photography

2024-25 COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL / Women & Men
Weeks 3 & 4 – Nov. 17-30

ECS staff report

Women’s Basketball

Grossmont College
Fri., Nov. 22 – df. Cuesta, 77-60
Tue., Nov. 26 – df. Cerritos, 77-46

FLETCHER HILLS – Yje re-nuilt Grossmont College women’s basketball team now owns the best record (6-1 overall) among any Pacific Coast Athletic Conference program following a sweep of a pair of games last week.

The Griffins stopped the Cuesta Cougars of San Luis Obispo, 77-60, then stomped former South Coast Conference rival Cerritos Falcons of Norwalk, 77-46, to run their winning streak to five games.

At home against Cuesta (3-3), Grossmont trailed by a small margin for three quarters, but in the fourth period, the Griffins out-scored the Cougars, 27-10, to win easily thanks to a strong defensive effort.

Kyla Palpallatoc

The Griffins finished with 8 steals, 7 blocks, then held a 45-34 rebound advantage while wating for the offense to awaken.

Anayla Anderson (Los Angeles) paced Grossmont with 22 points, including 10 in the fourth, while Kyla Palpallatoc (Morse) posted 9 of her 19 poits over the final 10 minutes.

Anderson fuled the offense with 7 assists, while Palpallatoc added 5 helpers.

At Cerritos, Grossmount mounted a 15-point halftime lead, then tallied 44 second-half poins to win at The Aviary arena.

Palpallatoc drained a half-dozen 3-point shots for a game-best 22 points, establishing a career-high for the second straight outing.

Next week, Grossmont will be a participant in the Cypress College Tournament, the oldest community college event in SoCal history (starting in the Spring 1978 season).

Cuyamaca College:
Sat., Nov. 23 – df. Copper Mountain, 68-64

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – For just the second time in the turbulent history of Cuyamaca College women’s basketball, the Coyotes moved two full games above .500 at 3-1 after downing the Fightin’ Cacti of Copper Mountain College for the second time this season.

The victory avenged an 8-point loss in Joshua Tree to open the season, giving Cuyamaca a 3-game win streak. The other pair of wins came against L.A. Harbor College.

Unfortunately, highlights were not posted by the athletic department. BOXSCORE

Cuyamaca continues its 40game homestand by entertainian Saddleback on Tuesday (Dec. 3) and Compton on Friday (Dec. 6). Both start at 5 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

Cuyamaca College:
Wed., Nov. 20 – df. College of the Desert, 67-63
Fri., Nov.22 – lost to Irvine Valley, 67-50/

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – The Coyotes (5-2 overall) may be off to their best start in 15 seasons, but the record could be a touch misleading.

The first six games (five opponents) came against teams with losing records. So when Cuyamaca concluded November against Irvine Valley — a lone opponent with a winning record so far this season — the Lasers took a wire-to-wire victory.

Cuyamaca was limited to just 19 first-half points. For the contest, the Coyotes shot a season-low 40 percent (18-for-60) from the floor.

The leading scorer for the hosts was Kenneth Klu with 14 points. For the Lasers, Matt Mowers came off the bench to lead Irvine Valley (5-2) with 16 points. BOXSCORE

Next for Cuyamaca is a road trip to Santa Ana on Wednesday (Dec. 4), starting at 5 p.m. from historic Bill Cook Gymnasium. But firt, the host DOns will entertain Grossmont College on Monday (Dec. 2), also at 5 p.m.

Grossmont College:
Fri., Nov. 27 – lost to Compton, 92-80

FLETCHER HILLS – The most improved community college basketball team in Southeren California may be the Compton Tartars.

Compton built a 51-41 halftime lead, then kept the lead between 8 to 14 points throughout the second half to down Grossmont College, 92-80, on Friday (Nov.27)

Compton guard Zoe Holman led the Tartars with 23 points and 7 assists.

For Grossmont, forward Lamont Wilkerson registered career highs of 35 points and 11 rebounds, as the Griffins continue a rotation of 12 players to finally determine a regular starting unit in time for the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference opener, which starts in two weeks.

Following Monday’s contest at Santa Ana, the Griffins will host Porterville on Friday (Dec. 6) at 6 p.m.