JC Roundup: Cross Country, Hoops, Polo

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: November 11, 2023

2023-24 EAST COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGES
Men’s Basketball / Cross-Country / Women’s Water Polo

From staff and wire reports

Cross-Country

LONG BEACH – Cuyamaca College posted strong showing at the Southern California Championships with the second-best showing among San Diego County schools.

While San Diego Mesa College took first place in both races held at El Dorado Park, the Coyotes men’s team placed seventh overall, while the women finished in eighth.

For the men, Steven Valadez finished in 26th place in 20:29.
On the women;s side, Daycia Fielden (San Ysidro) was the top individual finisher in 28th place at 19:25.

The state championships will be held Friday (Nov. 17) at historic Woodward Park in Fresno.

Cuyamaca is coaches by legendary distance runner Thom Hunt, who once held the American record in the indoor mile with a mark that lasted more than a quartyer-century.

Men’s Basketball

Cuyamaca College

EL CAJON – In the annual Cuyamaca College Tournament, the host Coyotes popped Pacific Coast Athletic Conference rival Imperial Valley, 92-64, on Saqturday (Nov. 11).

However, in Friday’s (Nov. 10) opening round, Mt. San Jacinto (3-0) popped Cuyamaca, 92-72, to remain unbeaten.

Cuyamaca is now 2-2 overall.Next week, the oyotes conclude their homestand against Golden west (Wednesday), then travel to Whittier to face winless Rio Hondo (Friday),

Golden West fell to 1-3 after falling to Southwestern, 89-72, over the weekend.

Grossmont College

WALNUT — For the Grossmont Griffins. a visit to Mt.. San Antonio College continues to be its Heartbreak Hotel.

Participateing at the Gene Victor Memorial Tournament, the Griffins dropped a pair of games in the final seconds.

On Thursday (nov. 9), the difference was just a single second in a 81-79 loss to Victor Valley.

With an opportunity to win the game at the foul line with one second left, the griffins only made the final of three shots. The free throw gave them the lead, but Victory Valley was able to call a timeout and advance the ball to mid-court.

The inbounds pass went to Rams guard Sheldon Grant, who turned and shot a 3-point shot at the buzzer to stun Grossmont in the semifinals.
Grossmont was led by guard Amari Leflore, who tallied a career-high 31 points.

In Saturday’s (Nov. 11) third-place contest, Grossmont again held a 1-point lead in the minal moments against Glendale (Calif.) College. However, the Gauchos scored the final seven points to take a 76-71 decision.

Women’s Water Polo

GLENDORA – The Grossmont College women’s water polo team, which technicallt finished third in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference because San Diego Mesa did not play a match to gain a half-game advantage in the regular season standings, gained a stroke of revenge.

The Griffins nipped Mesa, 10-8, to advance to the title game of the PCAC Championships.

Although the G-House would fall to San Diego Miramar in the finale, both schools advanced to the CCCAA Southern California regional.

Grossmont, the No. 10 seed, later fell in the playoffs to tournament host Citrus, 17-6. The Owls are the No. 7 seed.

For Grossmont, Kristen Furuholmen (Grossmont HS) finished as the club’s leading scorer with 44 goals, followed by Rasma Rotsart (Helix) with 21.

On the mens side, Zac Barclay (Clairemont) led all scorers with 60, followed by a tue for second at 40 between Lucas Draper (Patrick Henry) and Vaughn Clark (Granite Hills).