Taking over the game at times for the Cerritos College men's basketball team, freshman guard Jalen Shores (Lakewood HS) scored a season-high 23 points to help the team to a 77-72 non-conference win over visiting Porterville College on Wednesday night. Shores, who scored 14 of his game-high 23 points in the first half, converted on 9-of-13 shots and also added three assists, three steals and a pair of rebounds for the Falcons (7-6). The Pirates (8-3) came into the game ranked #22 in the state. Cerritos will travel to Palomar College for a 5:00 p.m. non-conference game on December 28.

Trailing 30-20 with 5:24 remaining in the first half, the Falcons went on a 16-5 run to end the half, with Shores accounting for nine of the points. After a Shores bucket, freshman Garrett Bell (Sonora HS) drained a three-pointer, with seven straight Shores points pulling the team with within 33-32. Sophomore Andre Fields (Warren HS) followed with a short turnaround jumper to put the team in front with :51 seconds remaining. Then, with four seconds left, sophomore Dorian Harris (Cerritos HS) connected on a jump shot to put the team in the lead, 36-35 heading into halftime.

With the game tied at 47 early in the second half, Shores, freshman Malik Johnson (Compton HS) and sophomore Juice Belvin (St. Anthony HS) all made consecutive baskets. But the Pirates went on a run of their own and opened a 61-56 lead with 8:10 left on the clock. The basket by Porterville would be their last until their was 1:14 remaining. During that time, the Cerritos defense limited them to just three free throws, while a pair of Belvin baskets, followed by two free throws from Fields gave the Falcons a 62-61 advantage. When sophomore Cerroy Chenault (Warren HS) converted a three-point play with 3:56 left, Cerritos once again took the lead at 65-63 - a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game.

Shores followed that with a basket and a pair of free throws, which made it a 69-63 lead. On the night, the Falcons converted 19-of-21 free throws and out-rebounded the Pirates, 40-27. A four free throws from Chenault and a pair by freshman Gorden Boykins (St. Anthony HS) sealed the victory in the final minute.

Chenault finished the night with nine points and five rebounds, while the trio of Johnson (three rebounds), Belvin (four rebounds) and Fields (nine rebounds) all added eight points in the win.

Photos by Daryl Peterson