SCC Wins Final Regular Season Game, 103-73.
Entering the last regular season game, Santiago Canyon Men’s Basketball Team was looking to continue their momentum as they head to the playoffs next week.
Entering the last regular season game, Santiago Canyon Men's Basketball Team was looking to continue their momentum as they head to the playoffs next week. Winners of their last 4 games, the Hawks jumped out to an early lead and never looked back winning by a score of 103-73. OCC played hard and kept the game within single digits for the early part of the first half, but SCC finished the half strong and had a 20-point advantage, 50-30, at intermission. Leading the way in scoring for the Hawks was Drew Yezbak with 13 points including 2 three-pointers. They had balanced scoring as 8 players all scored in the half. The team shot 55.6% from the field and 93.3% from the free throw line in the half, while holding OCC to 41.4% from the floor.
Santiago Canyon continued to play well in the second half and built a comfortable lead that they would not relinquish. The pace of play was to SCC's liking as they finished the game with 103 points. David Mitchell came off the bench to spark the team with a game-high 22 points including 4 made threes. Yezbak finished with 21 points, while Josh Griffin chipped in with 19 points and Harrison Wiese finished with 10 points to round out the double digit scorers. The Hawks' bench scored 46 points on the night. SCC also shot a solid 25 for 27 from the free throw line. David Agba grabbed 6 rebounds to lead the way, while also dishing out 4 assists to tie Preston Sims and Erik Howlin for the team's assist leader on the night.
SCC now awaits the playoff bracket and look forward to a high seed in the Southern California Regional Playoffs. Twenty-two teams from the South will be placed in a bracket according to playoff criteria, which determines the seeding process. SCC should open with a first round bye and then play in the regional semi-finals on Thursday, March 5. Game time will be 7pm. The Hawks conclude the regular season with an overall record of 22-5 and an Orange Empire Conference record of 12-4.