Eduardo Miranda

The Daily Independent

The Cerro Coso men's basketball team returned home after splitting their two games at the Reedley tournament, a 79-70 loss to San Mateo and a 92-58 win over Reedley, and falling down to No. 16 in the California Community College Athletic Association ranking. The Coyotes welcomed Citrus to their home and held off the Owls in a close game for a 78-59 win, to end the non-conference portion of the schedule with a 10-2 record.

"Huge win for our program while facing adversity," said Head Coach Chris Dugan. "Our leading scorer is out with a messed-up thumb for a week or two, we lost two out of three, guys were kind of wobbling, we were in the storm for sure. We were in the storm, and I challenged the guys. They looked me dead in the eyes and they met the bell. I challenged them but they did everything. They answered the call but if we defend, we will win games. Simply as that."

The Coyotes had only eight players dress up for the game against the owls and had four score in double figures. Sincere Edwards led the team with a double double 12 points and 13 rebounds including three assists and two blocks. Joshua Escheik led the team in scoring with 23 points including hitting four three-pointers, and Darnell Turner Jr. had 21 points with seven rebounds, three on the offensive end, three assists, four steals, and a block. Trent Gordon had 10 points with six rebounds and Malachi Greenwich had 11 rebounds with nine on the defensive board.

The Coyotes went into the half trailing 28-26 and outscored the Owls 52-31 in the second half. They finished shooting 42.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the three-point line, and 75 percent from the charity stripe. Cerro Coso's defense held Citrus to 24.7 percent from the field, 22.7 percent from the three-point line, and 51.6 percent from the free throw line on 31 attempts.

The Coyotes used a 14-0 run in the middle of the second half to secure a 19-point lead and a home win. The run began with Gordon scoring a layup and then hitting the and-one free throw, from there the Coyotes offense began to attack the rim and create open look for shooters. But what kept the run going was the defense as the home team played a stingy halfcourt defense. The players were quick to jump into the passing lanes, make the switch on screens, and controlled the board to hold the Owls to a single offensive opportunity.

With the win over Citrus, Cerro Coso now turns its attention to starting the Inland Empire Athletic Conference hosting the No. 2 ranked team in CCCAA in Mt. San Jacinto on Wednesday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Dugan had nothing but respect for the Eagles and their Head Coach Trent Skinner, who the Coyotes coach said is one of his closest friends in the league and state. He added they talk a lot and he is a great coach, and he expects a tough battle on Wednesday. He expects a dog fight against the Eagles and he is excited for that game and he knows his players will be ready for it.

"Obviously as a competitor you always want to play the best. And the opportunity to play the best is something I look forward to. You always get up to play No. 1 and we have that chance to do that right now. I'm fired up and I'll make sure these guys are fired up, but just the opportunity to compete and we talk about it all the time," Dugan said. "We play 28 times a year, 29 if we are lucky, 30 if we are lucky. You practice 125 times. I care about practice, I don't care about the games, they care about the games so you better be fired up and excited for the opportunity to compete. And what we have built in this program, we are not sneaking up on anybody no more. It's on these guys to care on that tradition and keep building."

Cerro Coso went into the half trailing 28-26 and came out of the locker room, and took a 38-34 lead with 15:19 left in the game. That led to a Citrus timeout and after the timeout, Edwards was fouled and went to the line to hit both his shots. Turner scored on an offensive putback, and Edwards hit a corner three on a pass from Turner for a 46-34 lead with 14:25 on the clock. The Owls than responded with a 6-0 run until Escheik hit a three on a pass from Turner to end the run. Gordon who was fouled hit one of two for a 10-point lead, 50-40.

Citrus responded hitting a three and Gordon matched the three with a layup and-one. The Owls scored on the ensuing possession and Escheik banked in a three-pointer for a 56-45 lead and the start of a 14-0 run. Greenwich hit one of two from the charity stripe, Turner hit two free throws on a technical foul called against the Owls coach, and Jonathan Leggett scored on a layup going coast-to-coast for a 61-45 lead. Turner continued the run hitting one of two from the free throw line, and Escheik hit a jump shot for a 64-45 lead to end the run.

The Owls scored the next four points but the Coyotes responded with Escheik going four for four from the free throw line after a foul call and a technical called against a Citrus player. Cerro Coso led 68-49 with 4:59 left to play. Escheik hit a three on a pass from Edwards and then was hit with a technical for taunting after hitting a contested three. Eddie Garner hit one of two from the free throw line for a 72-53 lead and Greenwich extended it when he hit both his free throws. The Coyotes leading 74-57 with 1:20 left in the game, had Greenwich hit a layup and Edwards scored on a dunk from a Greenwich pass to end the game.