Palomar remains on top, just for now

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: January 16, 2025

2024-25 COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL / Women & Men

ECS staff report

Women’s Basketball

Palomar 63, Grossmont 56

FLETCHER HILLS – Forty years gao, Grossmont and San Diego Mesa were easily the best women’s basketball teams in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.

In the 21st Century, Palomar has taken over the top spot, but the Griffins and Olympians are making a case for the top.

However, for the moment, Palomar continues to cling to the top of the ladder.

Following the Comets’ victory over Mesa last week, the North County squad remained unbeaten in PCAC action after Wednesdasy’s (Jan. 15) victory over Grossmont, 63-56. BOXSCORE

Many observors believed Palomar might be trouble, entering conferene play by dropping 5-of-7 ballganes. However, all were to state-ranked foes in undisuted No. 1 College of the Sequoias, No. 2 Mt. San Antonio, No. 9 Cypress, No. 10 San Joaquin Delta, and No. 25 Citrus. RANKINGS

Thus, Palomar remained in the rankings at No. 18, while Grossmont moved into the Top 25 for the first time in a decade at No.22 — three spots better than Citrus.

The optimism on Grossmont’s side was worthy, but Palomar escaped, moving to 11-6 overall (4-0 PCAC). The built an early 11-point advantage, yet the Griffins chipped away.

Finally in the fourth quarter, consecutive foul shots by Kyla Palpalatoc, then a short jump shot from India Pines trimmed the deficit to 49-46 with 7:13 remaining.

The sides traded point, with Grossmont’s Anayla Anderson again making it a 3-point game at 53-50 with 5:56 left., followed by a game-tying, 3-point bomb by Palpalatoc, to make things even at the midway point of the period.

However, Palomar’s Teanna Alaman immediately answer with a basket, starting a 10-3 Comets run to hang on to the triumph.

Alaman, one of four Comets to score in double figures, led the ballclub with 16 points. Kylee Trujillo was next with 14, followed by Flournoy (12) and Brooke Quintana (10).

Fir Grossmont, Anderson poured hom a game-best 21 point — one shy of her career-high set against Cuesta — while Janea Wilson added 14.

Technically, Palomar remains in a deadlock for first place with Umperial Valley, but the Arabs opened against the bottom three schools in the PCAC.

The Lady Arabs will get tested Friday (Jan. 17) when Grossmont visits them in a 7 p.m. start.

Scoreboard

Wed., Jan. 15
Palomar 63, Grossmont 56
San Diego def, Cuyamaca (Social media saud 83-25)
San Diego City 73, MiraCosta 58
Imperial Valley at Southwestern, no report

Men’s Basketball

Scoreboard

Wed. Jan. 15
Palomar 86, Grossmont 66 BOXSCORE
MiraCosta 52, San Diego City 50
SD Miramar 91, Imperial Valley 70
Southwestern 81, San Diego Mesa 53
BYE – Cuyamaca