Caught up early in the herky-jerky style of play that El Camino College employs, the Cerritos College men's basketball team needed a few minutes to get their bearings. The Falcons (18-8, 7-1), who eventually went on to win, 101-90, trailed off and on in the first half before taking a 50-41 lead into intermission. The teams would eventually combine to hit 20 three-pointers, but Cerritos was able to post the win by shooting 54% from the field, compared to 36% for El Camino.

The game started off with a special treat, as sophomore Kade West (The Learning Center for the Deaf, MA HS), who is hearing disabled, knocked down a three-pointer in the corner to get the scoring started in the game. Making his first-ever start, West played six minutes and scored five points, which included a layup in the second half.

After a dunk from freshman Jaysen Owens (Narbonne HS) put the team in front, 35-33 in the first half, sophomore Dillon Botts (Mayfair HS) followed with a jumper and sophomore Marcel Hayes (Long Beach Poly HS) drained a three-pointer to make it a 40-33 advantage. The Warriors, who rushed up and down the court in five-player blocks, went cold from the field, with the Falcons finding their hot shooting hand at the same time.

Hayes completed a fast break layup before sophomore Jordun Willard (Paramount HS) completed a three-point play when he converted a free throw after throwing down a dunk. It put Cerritos up, 45-33 prior to halftime.

El Camino made a push early in the second half and tied the game at 52-52 until a pair of Andrew Mata (Schurr HS/Holy Cross, IN College) three-pointers helped the Falcons slowly build their lead back. It was a 10-point advantage with 11:06 left after a loud dunk from sophomore Spencer Ezewiro (Paramount HS/Moberly Area, MO CC). The second half lead was extended to 18 points (82-64) after another El Camino cold spell. The advantage was as much as 22 points (88-66) until the team settled for their nine-point win.

Hayes led the team off the bench with 19 points, along with five rebounds, while Botts produced 13 points and three assists. Sophomore Darron Henry (Long Beach Poly HS) finished the night with 11 points, four assists and three rebounds, with Ezewiro adding nine points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. Mata (nine points, four rebounds), Owens (eight points, four rebounds) and Willard (seven points) all played well off the bench for Cerritos.

The Falcons will host crosstown rival Long Beach City at 7:00 p.m. next Wednesday.

Photos by Daryl Peterson