Hawks Honor Six Sophomores & Nab Seventh Straight Dub in Conference Finale

The Santiago Canyon College men's basketball team looked to cap Orange Empire Conference (OEC) play on a seven-game winning streak as they hosted the Orange Coast College Pirates on home hardwood Friday night. The Hawks experienced one of their largest victories to date as they routed the Pirates by the final score of 94-65.

Prior to tip off, Head Coach Todd Dixon and the Santiago Canyon coaching staff paid homage to six sophomores who dedicated the past two years to the Hawks men's basketball program. The grouping featured sophomores Kai Smith, Damien Parker, Joey Longo, Isaiah Arthurton, Dane Kiefer and Caleb Hong.

It was the second time this season the Hawks earned a 29-point victory. Previously, they defeated Riverside by the same margin in late December. Their largest margin of victory on the season was a 43-point tromping of Golden West just two weeks ago. Furthermore, they downed LA Harbor and Golden West by 32 points in early December and mid-January, respectively.

Three players landed in double-digit scoring, but none were more dominant than I. Arthurton who bucketed 19 points off the bench. He was electric from long range by hitting five three pointers and going 7-for-10 from the floor. He hit his firsst five three pointers he fired off. It was his highest point total since early November and his first double-digit point mark since mid-November.

Smith continued to be a walking double-digit machine as he inked his sixth-consecutive double-digit mark and seventh in the last eight games. He finished with 13 points. Longo followed with 12 points and was one rebound shy of notching a double-double.

SCC shot an impressive 52.2 percent from the floor while holding the Pirates to under 38 percent shooting. They carted a 40 percent clip from downtown and outrebounded the Pirates by 33 boards.

The Hawks bench was on fire as they accounted for 49 points. Much of the credit goes to I. Arthurton. However, freshman Eli Arthurton scored nine points, while Kiefer bucketed six. Freshman Trevor Manning drained seven points, while Hong chipped in five points including one triple.