By Alfonso Rivera
The women’s basketball team received the number four seed in the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regional playoffs. As a result, the Huskies host their first postseason game ever.
The Huskies, 22-6 overall and ranked 7th in the state, will play against Irvine Valley College in the second round, tonight at 7 p.m. Irvine is 18-12 overall and the 13th seed.
When asked about the team’s chances in the playoffs coach Bruce Turner said, “The team is confident and playing with great momentum. Having a home game is big.”
The momentum that Coach Turner is speaking about is in reference to their stunning, 77-71, victory over the No. 2-ranked team in the state Mt. San Antonio College, on Feb. 10th.
The Mounties only have three losses all season also losing twice to Ventura College. Mt. SAC is top-seed in the SoCal regional. Ventura College, the top ranked team in the state, is the No. 2-seed in the SoCal regional.
The Huskies have only suffered one home loss all season, 52-49, at the hands of the state’s No. 16-ranked team, Long Beach City on Jan. 25th.
The Husky season has the makings of a story book ending in a year that has already become a first.
If the Huskies beat the Irvine Lasers, they will host the winner of the Cerritos College/College of the Canyons game in the third round of the playoffs next Wednesday, Feb. 29th.
The 15th through the 17th seeds played earlier this week in the first round of the playoffs.
Pasadena City College, the 15th seed, beat Antelope Valley, 67-65 on Wednesday. The Lancers beat the Huskies, 60-56, last week to earn a postseason bid.
The Lady Huskies defeated the El Camino College Compton Center Tartars, 96-40, to end the regular season, 12-4, in South Coast Conference play. ELAC tied for second place with Cerritos College.
The Huskies started strong against Compton from tip-off, building a 45-12 half-time lead. ELAC continued to score at a high rate in the second half showcasing their offense, poised for a deep playoff run.
The Lady Huskies were led by sophomore Keyanna Johnson with 19 points. Johnson, the No. 3-ranked scorer in the SCC, averages 17.4 points per game.
The Huskies’s well balanced attack against Compton resulted in three other players scoring in double figures.
ELAC received major contributions from sophomores Jamie Robinson (16 points), Francis Ordonez (14 points) and Aires McCarther who scored 10 points for the Lady Huskies.