Holiday Classic remembers Robinson

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: December 21, 2024

2024-25 COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL / Women’s & Men’s

ECS staff report

Women’s Basketball

Randy Robinson, the long-time girls basketball coach and director of athletics at El Cajon Valley High, passed away Friday of pancreatic cancer. Robinson was also oneof two men responsible for brining the Holiday Classic to Grossmont in 1986-87. He passed on the day of this year’s championship contest, won by the Griffins.

Grossmont College

FLETCHER HILLS – The 24th-ranked Grossmont Holiday Classic, the second oldest community college women’s basketball tournament in California, saw the host Griffins down both Pasadena City and L.A. Trade Tech to take the championship of the championship of the 44th annual event.

The Griffins’ Anayla Anderson was named to the all-tournament team.

On Wednesday (Dec. 18), Grossmont stopped the Lancers,57-40, the on Friday (Dec. 20), defeated the Lady Techsters, 74-56.

The Griffins now an overall record of 11-2, their best start this century and the second-best since original head coach Joyce Sake guided the program in the 1970s and 80s.

In the tournament opener, Grossmont mounted a 46-27 lead through three periods before breezing. The freshman led the way, as Anayla Anderson tallied a game-best 14 points, while Kiya Waters added10. BOXSCORE

In the trophy-clinching triumph. L.S. Trade Tech took a 1-point halftime lead, but Grossont took the third period by a 21-10 margin to win going away.

Sophomore forward Janea Wilson (Steele Canyon) pouted home a season-high 20 points, while grabbing 9 rebounds.

However, the co-leaders on the boards were India Pines and Wilson woth 12 each, allowing the Griffins to dominate on the glass, 50-32. BOXSCORE

Grossmont, owners of a 5-game winning streak and state-ranked for the firt time in more than two decades, will next open Pacific Coast Athletic Conference action by visiting crosstown rival Cuyamaca on Wed., Jan. 8. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

44thy annual Grossmont Holiday Classic
Wed., Dec. 18
Grossmont 57, Pasadena 40
L.A. Trade Tech 75, MiraCosta 66
Cosumnes River 71, L.A. Mission 43

Thurs., Dec. 19
Pasadena 61, MiraCosta 45
L.A. Trade Tech 69, Cosumnes River 61

Fri., Dec. 20
Grossmont 74, L.A. Trade Tech 56
Cosumnes River 57, Pasadena 53

All-Tournament Team

Anayla Anderson , Grossmont

Serenity Johnson , LA Trade Tech

Lakayla Hale, Cosumnes River

Monica Menzies , Pasadena

Faith Behrendt , MiraCosta

Cuyamaca College

YUMA, Ariz. – The long-time dispute between associations in California an=d Arizona is over, allowing Cuyamaca College to participate in the Arizona Western Tiournamet on Dec, 28-30.

The round-robin event lists the Coyotes to meet Central Arizona, Mesa (Ariz.) and Pima community colleges.

Cuyamaca enters the holiday break with a 6-3 overall record after sweeping a home-and-home series from Southwestern.

Men’s Basketball

Cuyamaca College

OCEANSIDE – Following a victory in its PCAC opener, Cuyamaca College closed the week with a loss to first-place MiraCosta, 62-59, Fridfay (Dec. 20) at Crosswoods Gymnasium.

The opener was also a narrow decision in nipping San Diego Miramar, 50-46, on Wednesday (Dec. 18).

Boxscores on both contests were not supplied.

The Coyotes (6-5 overall, 1-1 PCAC) begin a 4-game homestand on Sat., Dec. 28, against Antelope Valley . The next day, they will entertasin the East L.A. Huskies. Boyh contests will be held at an early 4 p.m. start.

Grossmont College

IMPERIAL – Grossmont College opened PCAC action with a pair of losses last week.

The Griffins (0-12) fell to San Diego City, 89-56, on Wednesday (Dec. 18), then fell at Imperial Valley in a shootout, 94-89, Friday (Dec. 20).

Against the SDCC Knights, Grossmont’s
Micah Brickner came off the bench to score a team-best 13 points at Harry West Gym.

IVC did not supply a boxscore from thee DiPaolo Sports Complex.