Last-Second Heroics Allows Men's Hoops To Knock Off #11 LA Harbor

Shant Chenorhavorian sinks the winning free throw in Friday's upset win (photo by Michael Watkins).
Shant Chenorhavorian sinks the winning free throw in Friday's upset win (photo by Michael Watkins).

Trailing by four with 25 seconds left, it appeared the Pasadena City College men's basketball team was out of time v. state #11 Los Angeles Harbor. But the 2022-23 Lancers are like Harry Houdini, escaping defeat through a nearly impossible scenario.

Shant Chenorhavorian hit an off-balance 3-pointer off the glass with 11 seconds left and then drew a foul on a 3-point attempt with just 0.5 of a second on the clock. He calmly sank all three free throws to give state #23 PCC its sixth consecutive win, 69-67, in a South Coast Conference crossover game on Friday evening. 

Chenorhavorian's free throws followed a Harbor free throw miss with five seconds to go, a defensive rebound by Nigel Wilson and then Chenorhavorian somehow drawing a foul just before the end of regulation. The sophomore shooting guard scored just nine points off the bench, but six of those coming in those final 11 seconds. 

PCC upped its record to 12-6 while Harbor fell to 13-3 despite 21 points and 16 rebounds by forward Louis Walker and 23 points from Demetrius Douglas. 

Rande Harper led the Lancers with 18 points, followed by 13 points, nine rebounds and four steals by Jonathan Tchengang. Myles Watkins added 10 points and Wilson had nine points and five boards.

"I think we have a team full of guys who have been overlooked and mentally tough because of that," said PCC head coach Ryan Frazer. "They are competitors and ready for the moment. It's not just one guy, it's different players every night. It's a true team effort."

PCC led 36-33 by halftime and was up by as much as nine on a Harper trey, 44-35, two minutes into the second half. A 10-0 run by the Seahawks gave them the lead with 14 minutes left. From that point, the teams traded seven lead changes and six ties. 

The Lancers next play at Compton College on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.