It sometimes takes the Cerritos College men's basketball team most of the first half to get their offense generating. But once they do, their up-tempo style seems to work well for the Falcons, who shot 68% from the field in the second half, as they defeated host El Camino College, 75-56. The win sets up a showdown with rival Long Beach City College on Friday at 7:00 p.m., with the winner clinching the South Coast Conference championship. Cerritos (16-9, 9-2) defeated the Vikings (17-8, 9-2) in their first meeting, 86-71 and the winner will take over sole possession with one game remaining.

The Falcons jumped out to an 8-0 lead to start their game against the Warriors (2-20, 0-11), but then fell behind 13-12, as Julian Dakdouk hit a trio of three-pointers for El Camino. Cerritos regrouped and went on a 14-4 run of their own, with sophomore Victor Jones (Lakewood HS) and freshman Austin Pope (Burbank HS) each draining a three-pointer during that stretch.

It was a five-point lead (30-25) at halftime, but the second half would once again prove to be the difference-maker in the game for the Falcons. Freshman guard Micah Winn (Westchester HS) scored the first five points to start the second half and then sophomore center Jarion Henry (Kimball, TX HS/Trinity Valley, TX CC) took over. Winn picked up eight of his 10 game points in the second half, while Henry accounted for 12 points in the final 20 minutes, as the team netted 15-of-22 shots.

Cerritos continued to extend their lead in the second half, as the Warriors were only able to convert 11-of-41 shots along the way. Four players scored in double-figures for the Falcons, with Henry leading all scorers with 15 points. Sophomore Jon Benson (Gahr HS) got a rare start and scored a season-high 11 points, as he converted all four of his shots, while he also pulled down six rebounds. Jones also added 11 points, while Winn finished with 10 points. Sophomore forward TJ Traylor (Dominguez HS) accounted for nine points and eight rebounds in the win, with Pope chipping in with five points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Photos by Daryl Peterson