Cuyamaca sweeps, its first in 14 years
- Updated: February 14, 2024
2023-24 COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL / MEN’S & WOMEN’S
ECS staff report
For the first time since the 2009-10 season, the Coyotes swept the season series from district rival Grossmont College, barely clinging to a 75-62 triumph at The G-House.
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The Battle for East County
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Grossmont vs. Cuyamaca
PCAC Men’s Basketball (Grossmont leads series, 28-18) |
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*Grossmont won by forfeit. |
Although the late lead nearly slipped away.
With Cuyamaca leading 73-70, Sergio Franco sank a pair of foul shots with 14 seconds left for a 5-point lead.
However, Grossmont’s Diego Sanchez hit a 2-point basketball with 14 seconds to go, with the Griffins quickly calling a timeout.
Somehow, Grossmont got the ball back and tried a potential game-tying 3-point shot with seven ticks remaining.
The ball was gobbled up with an offensive rebound, but Grossmont failed to release another 3-pointer in time, giving the Coyotes the victory.
Jonathan Duley paced Cuyamaca (10-15 overall, 5-8 PCAC) with 21 points and 8 rebounds.
Xavier Rubio added 17 points, while Franso poured in 13.
For Grossmont (4-21, 2-12 PCAC), Tre Edmond led all scorers with 23 points, while posting six boards and three assists.
Meanwhile, Micah Odell and Brandon Tully both came off the bench to score 9 points each.
Cuyamaca’s previous winning season was a 13-12 overall record in the 2009-10 season. Before that, it was a 19-12 mark in 2006-07.
Despite the loss the Griffins did have something to celebrate as they celebrated sophomore night, recognizing Griffin basketballers playing two years for Coach Dough Weber: Omarion Bellamy, Tre Edmond, Amari Lefore, Tyrone Lester, Diego Sanchez, Tony Sanchez, Brandon Tully, Sebastian Vann, and Elijah Williams.
The Griffins will finish the season on the road, playing Mira Costa on February 16th and San Diego Mesa on the 23rd.
Women
Grossmont College 119, Southwestern 8
FLETCHER HILLS — In the greatest romp in school history, Grossmont College called down Southwestern College, 119-8 0h yes, only eight — in Wednesday’s (Feb. 13) PCAC game at Grossmont.
The final score of 119 to 8 does not reflect the story of this memorable women’s community college basketball game between the host Grossmont Griffins and the visiting Southwestern Jaguars, dominated by Grossmont College from the tip-off to the final buzzer.
If you don’t already know the story, Janet Eleazer and Louie Linzaga, Southwestern College’s basketball coaches, wisely recruited players from the Jaguar soccer team to save their injury-plagued basketball season instead of forfeiting their remaining 2024 games.
These Jaguar soccer players trained to never touch a ball with their hands take to the game of basketball with a childlike joy all in the gym rightfully admired and happily shared every time the Jaguars scored a bucket.
Katelyn Romo sank a two as did Alyssa Pulido. Rylie Ewert hit a three, and Isis Garcia swished a free throw. Each made-basket erupted in a wave of elation from the Jaguar soccer moms, dads, and fans in the stands as well as players and coaches on the Southwestern bench. The Griffin fans also joined in, rooting for the Jaguar players to score.
On the other side in dominating fashion, the Griffins’ Janea Wilson, predictably, led with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Brielle Gefrom added 21 points from off the bench, Allira Martin had 20 points, while Pohai Basso had 19 as the ballclub fell one point short of the first “Quad 20” in school history.
Despite the score, the margin is not a conference mark.
Earlier in the season, 8th-ranked Palomar was forced to play the Jaguars, which refused to forfeit and registered a county-record 120-0 shutout win.
Grossmont’s first outing with SWC resulted in a 112-8 victory.
