EL CAJON -- The Grossmont College Griffins hosted the 50th Annual Grossmont College Invitational this past weekend and for the first time in recent memory (since 2012) scored 100 points or more in back-to-back games. On the weekend, they went 2-1 with wins over Palo Verde and Los Angeles Trade-Tech.
The Griffins (4-5) started the weekend with a three-point loss to Cuesta College, 80-77. Four Griffins reached double figures in scoring led by Samuel Stewart IV with 19 points, Daevin Celaya had 17 points and Brandon Tully had 13 to close out the trio.
On Saturday, Grossmont defeated Palo Verde College 101-78. The 23-point victory is the largest margin since the Griffins defeated El Camino 78-35 on Dec. 11, 2015. It is also the first time since Dec. 6, 2013 that the Green and Gold put 100 points on the scoreboard. Five Griffins scored double digits in the win led by Daevin Celaya's 16 points. Amari Leflore (14 points), Calvin Payne (13 points) and Brandon Tully and Sammy Stewart IV (10 points each) had great games.
Grossmont closed the weekend out with a victory over Los Angeles Trade-Tech College by a slim 104-102 score. Tre Edmond (26 points) and Daevin Celaya (20 points) both scored 20 points in the game. Celaya's final bucket came with just two seconds left in the game and was the winning score. Sammy Stewart IV and Brandon Tully both scored 14 points each.
"I'm pleased with the team's performance this weekend," head coach Doug Weber said. "This was one of the best Grossmont College Invitationals in the last decade or more. All 12 games were competitive. Congratulations to San Diego City for winning the tournament."
San Diego City, whom the Griffins will host in less than two weeks (Dec. 14) to open Pacific Coast Athletic Conference play, won the tournament. They defeated LA Trade-Tech on Friday, then dispatched Copper Mountain on Saturday before having a fantastic game against previously unbeaten Yuba College from Northern California, 73-70. Anthony Howell was named Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament.
The Green and Gold will take a couple of days to recover from the three games in three days and begin to prepare for LA Pierce College (0-11) who come to the Griffin Arena on Friday, Dec. 9 at 5:00 p.m.