M. Basketball: Santa Monica spoils home opener with 71-61 decision

Santa Monica

Cerritos

Final	1	2	T
Santa Monica (6-1)	43	28	71
Cerritos (2-3)	35	26	61

Jacob Washington had 10 points and six rebounds for the Falcons

Game Leaders

Santa Monica

Pts: Teddy Parham - 19

Reb: LeAndrew Knight - 10

Ast: Cesar Meza - 6

Cerritos

Pts: Dorian Harris - 15

Reb: Jaishon Forte - 9

Ast: Jalen Washington - 2

Team Stats

Santa Monica

Cerritos

Field Goals

(25-61)

(21-67)

Field Goal %

41.0%

31.3%

Rebounds

Assists

Turnovers

Pts off Turnovers

2nd Chance Pts

Bench Pts

full stats

Posted: Nov 22, 2019

Playing their home opener on Friday, the Cerritos College men's basketball team saw Santa Monica College come in and spoil the night with a 71-61 decision. The Falcons (2-3) will play their next two games in The Aviary, including a 5:00 p.m. game against Allan Hancock College next Wednesday.

Taking on the Corsairs (6-1), a state semifinalist last season, Cerritos trailed early on, 16-6, but fought back to eventually tie the game at 26-26. They received solid defense and rebounding, while the offense improved their shot selection. A three-pointer from sophomore Jeremiah Galang (Narbonne HS) tied the game with 7:31 left in the first half. However, Santa Monica went on a 17-9 run to close out the half and led by eight points (43-35). The Falcons didn't have an answer for the duo of Cesar Meza and Teddy Parham, who combined to drain six three-pointers, with the Corsairs netting nine shots from long range in the first 20 minutes.

That run by Santa Monica continued in the second half, as they scored the first 11 points to open up a commanding 54-35 lead. The Falcons struggled at times with their shot selection, while only able to get to within 12 points (64-52) after a jumper by freshman Dorian Harris (Cerritos HS) with 6:51 left on the clock. The remainder of the game saw Cerritos convert just 2-of-11 field goals, and missed out on a stretch of time where the Corsairs went 0-for-5 from the field with a turnover, and could not close the gap.

Harris came off the bench to lead the team with 15 points, while freshman Jaishon Forte (Rancho Verde HS) added 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench. The duo of sophomore Jacob Washington (Washington Prep HS/Los Angeles Harbor College) and Jahlen Jack (Centennial, GA HS) each accounted for 10 points and combined for nine rebounds, with sophomore Jalen Washington (Bishop Montgomery HS) pulling down six rebounds.

Photos by Daryl Peterson