M. Basketball: Trio of Falcons named 1st Team All-Conference

File Photo: Joshua Washington was one of three Falcons named 1st Team All-Conference
File Photo: Joshua Washington was one of three Falcons named 1st Team All-Conference

A pair of freshmen, along with a transfer sophomore led the way for the Cerritos College men's basketball team, as all three were named 1st Team All-South Coast Conference South Division. Jaishon Forte (Rancho Verde HS) and Dorian Harris (Cerritos HS), along with Jacob Washington (Washington Prep HS/Los Angeles Harbor College) were voted by the coaches, while sophomore Jalen Washington (Bishop Montgomery HS) was an Honorable Mention selection. The Falcons (19-9) were the co-champions of the South Division and seeded #8 for the Southern California Regional Playoffs.

Forte averaged 12.0 points a game in conference play, while accounting for 10.9 over the course of the season. He also leads the team in rebounding (7.9), which included a 23-rebound performance against Compton College. Forte recorded six double-doubles on the year, including the last two games of the season. He produced a season-high 19 points against Porterville College, Rio Hondo College and Pasadena City College, while scoring in double-figures 17 times. Also a three-point threat, Forte netted four treys in his scoring output against Rio Hondo and has made 38 on the year.

Harris, who is second on the team with 42 three-pointers, posted a 10.6 conference scoring average, while he averages 10.0 points a game during the year. He scored a season-high 25 points against El Camino College, which included six three-pointers and knocked down a season-high seven three-pointers for a 22-point game against Palomar College. In 14 games, Harris scored in double-figures, while he had a 19-point, 10-rebound game against Compton College. Harris averaged 3.7 rebounds a game, which included three games where he pulled down seven boards.

The team's second leading scorer (10.3) and rebounder (6.6), Jacob Washington opened the year with a season-high 18 points against Santiago Canyon College and matched it against Los Angeles Harbor College. He scored in double-figures 15 times, which included a three-game stretch where he converted 21-of-34 field goals and averaged 17 points. During that stretch, Washington posted 17 points and a season-high 17 rebounds against Pasadena City College.

The only returning player to earn all-conference honors, Jalen Washington averaged 7.5 points and a team-leading 3.5 assists a game. He also leads the team with a 91.4 free throw percentage (64-of-70). Washington scored a season-high 16 points against Los Angeles Trade-Tech College and recorded 15 points against College of the Sequoias. He turned in 11 double-digit scoring games and pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds against Fullerton College. In a win over Palomar, Washington dished out a season-high nine assists and had eight in a win over Ventura College.