Big comeback spurs San Francisco into CCCAA Championship game, 89-83

City College of San Francisco 89, Cerritos 83 CCCAA Men's Basketball Championship (semifinals) Ventura College Photo by Pat Dickinson
City College of San Francisco 89, Cerritos 83 CCCAA Men's Basketball Championship (semifinals) Ventura College Photo by Pat Dickinson
Photos Video Recap Box Score Box Score Box Score
March 10, 2018
 
VENTURA, Calif. – Down by 13 points with 8:31 remaining, City College of San Francisco staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Cerritos College, 89-83, Saturday evening in the semifinals of the California Community College Men's Basketball Championships at Ventura College. The state top-ranked Rams (32-1) will play defending state champion and second ranked San Diego City College (33-2) in Sunday's 3:30 p.m. championship game. SDCC defeated Fresno City College, 90-82, in the other semi.

CCSF trailed, 73-60, with 8:31 remaining before going on a 15-1 run to take the lead at 75-74 with 4:06 left on a layup by Lester Hayes. But it was far from over.

Cerritos ended a nearly 5-minute field goal drought with a basket by Jonathan Guzman to retake the lead. San Francisco responded with a 3-point play by Terrell Brown, who was fouled on his successful lay-up, for a 78-76 advantage. Christian Alvis of Cerritos tied it for the last time with a field goal with 3:12 on the clock. Then Hayes produced the go ahead basket on a layup to make it 80-78 with 2:54 remaining.

Although the Falcons were unable to retake the lead, it was still a 1-point game at 84-83 with less than a minute to play. Hayes gave the Rams a 3-point margin at 86-83 with 43 seconds left with a put back of a missed free throw. A 3-point play (off a basket and free throw) by Eddie Stansberry added the decisive touch with 22 seconds remaining.

Hayes, a 6-6 sophomore forward from Chavez High School (Stockton) was the game's top scorer (25 points) and rebounder (7). Brown, a 6-0 sophomore guard out of Moreau Catholic (Hayward) had 17 points and five rebounds. He was 11 of 12 from the free throw line (where CCSF had a substantial 25-8 point advantage over the Falcons). Stansbury, a 6-3 sophomore guard from Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) had 14 points.

Cerritos was led by Riley Hamilton, a 6-6 sophomore from Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) and

Demetrius Thomas, a 6-8 sophomore from Bassick (Bridgeport, Conn.), each with 16 points.

Except for the early second half lapse by the Rams, it was a close game throughout – with 21 lead changes and eight ties.

--Coast North Conference champion CCSF has won 28 games since its only loss, 90-63, to College of the Sequoias in the Fresno City College tournament on Nov. 17.

San Francisco won recent state titles in 2011 and 2016 and was the runner-up in 2010.

 
(Fred Baer, College of San Mateo Athletics)