ELAC men’s basketball wins tournament
SANTA CLARITA, CA — The state’s No. 8-ranked East Los Angeles College Huskies defeated host College of the Canyons 87-84 in the championship game of the ninth annual Clash at Canyons tournament today in the Cougar Cage.
It was the third straight year the Huskies won the Clash title. ELAC defeated Oxnard College 91-74 in the first round yesterday.
“It was a good two games for us and a test to see what to improve for the next tournament,” said ELAC Head Basketball men’s Coach John Mosely.
ELAC freshman Roderick Williams (Price High School) received the tournament’s Most Valuable player award. He had a double double in the title game with 10 points and 11 rebounds. He scored 25 points against Oxnard and had nine rebounds.
Sophomore guard Sequan Walker (Long Beach Cabrillo HS) received All-Tournament Team honors. He scored 28 points and had four steals in the championship game. Walker had 7 tournament assists and 37 tournament points.
Against Canyons, there were 11 lead changes and 4 ties in the first half. Canyons largest lead was 29-24 with 7:21 remaining in the half. ELAC then responded with a 10-0 run, which included five Huskies scoring to lead 34-29 at the 4:46 mark.
Canyons built a 54-38 lead with 14:21 remaining in the game. ELAC rallied back to take a 56-55 with 13:34 left off a sophomore guard Chandler Redix (Cathedral HS) 3-point shot from beyond the arc.
Sophomore forward Chima Wami (Corona Santiago HS) two free throws with 59 seconds left put the Huskies up 83-72. Canyons attempted a furious rally in the final minute that included four consecutive three-point shots, the latter with 4 seconds left, but it was not enough.
Sophomore guard Jesus Zesati (St. John Bosco HS) came off the bench and scored seven points that included a highflying layup from a rebound off the glass that brought the Huskies to their feet.
ELAC posted a 47-22 half lead in the Oxnard win led by Williams and sophomore guard Zeno Lake (Compton HS) who scored 13 points and 20 first half points, respectively. Williams and Lake each had a first half dunk.
Redix scored 19 tournament points and had a team-high seven assists. Freshman guard Frank Bertz (Sultana HS) scored 28 tournament points with five assists and three steals. Harris scored 17 tournament points and had 11 rebounds.
The Huskies have several games this season against Top 20 statewide ranked teams and a possible matchup versus No. 17 San Bernardino Valley College in the Huskies’ next outing, the San Bernardino Alvin Hunter Classic tournament, Nov. 18-20.
story submitted by Tadzio Garcia