The Cerro Coso Men's basketball team played its second straight game hosting Santa Barbara Community College in the backend of a back to back and second game in four nights. The Coyotes were coming off a comeback win in the season home opener against San Diego Mesa where they overcame a 10 point halftime deficit. The Coyotes showed that same gritty come from behind attitude in overcoming a six point deficit at the half to the Vaqueros and winning 64-61 to improve to 2-0 on the season.
"We struggled to be able to slide our feet and contain guys. They did a good job, they were tough and they made a lot of shots. We found a way to win the game. Jalen (Williams) made two big plays that dunk and steal kind of got us over the hump," Head Coach Chris Duggan said on his team's performance in the win. "Every win you have, you have to cherish them. There came a point in this program where they didn't win a lot of games, they won seven games in four years. So sometimes you get frustrated and say hey man we should have won by more, but dude we just grind it out and found ways to win games. And we did."
Jordan Howard led the Coyotes in scoring with 19 points and added three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Sincere Edwards added 13 points, a team high with seven rebounds and two blocks. Adam Claybourne Jr. missed out on scoring in double digits with nine points and had six boards.
The game against Santa Barbara was the backend of a back to back for the Coyotes and the second straight game where they had to come from behind for the win. Dugan spoke on his team playing back to back and getting a second comeback win.
"We were a little flat and they came out and where able to sustain that energy. We have to be able to do it not just in the first four minutes but every four minute segments and at the end of the game," he said. "The crowd is always good for us because it gives us a boost and gets guys feeling. SO we appreciate the baseball team. But obviously no excuses we have to come out and perform. We play 28 times a year so you have to come out and do it.
"We don't want to keep doing that because eventually the gas is going to run out. If you keep digging yourself into a hole and when you get a hole you spend so much energy. Its always a game of runs, they go on a run and we go on a 8-0 run. There is going to be some sort of comeback and we don't want to put ourselves in that spot. We are lucky to be able to grind it out and they got a really good look for a good shooter. You are playing a chance and we have to be better."
The first half for the Coyotes and Vaqueros was slow at the beginning with the home team leading 14-10 after the first 10 minutes of play. The pace and scoring began to pick up afterwards with Santa Barbara hitting from the perimeter and Cerro Coso attacking the lane. Claybourne had back to back layups to push the Coyotes lead to 18-15, but much like the season opener the Coyotes struggled to close out the first half. The Coyotes struggled at the free throw line with Edwards, Claybourne, and Nate Jackson all missing which allowed the Vaqueros to not only stay within range but even take the lead after a 7-0 run. Howard gave the Coyotes and their fans some hope when he hit a buzzer beater to cut the deficit to six at the half, 31-25.
In the second half the Coyotes came out of the locker rooms and cut the Vaqueros' lead to three points on an Edwards made free throw and a reverse layup from Jalen Williams. Santa Barbara stopped the run when Edwards was called for a clear path foul but the Vaqueros hit one of two free throws and the ensuing offensive possession resulted in a contested jump shot late in the shot clock. That swung momentum in favor of the Coyotes who went on an 11-0 run with a layup from Howard, a layup from Nate Jackson, a layup from Edwards, two free throws from Howard, a three from Howard, and two free throws from Destin Jackson put the home team ahead 41-40. The Vaqueros ended the Coyotes run with an open layup to retake the lead at 42-41. The Coyotes could not score on their next possession and Santa Barbara was called for three seconds in the paint resulting in a turnover. On the ensuing play the Coyotes where called for a charge but the referees changed the call to blocking sending Jackson to the free throw line where he hit one of two, which tied the game at 42-42.
Jackson then hit a three to give the Coyotes a 45-42 lead. Edwards extended the lead when he tipped in a missed layup and hit a jump shot in the post for a 48-42 lead. But Santa Barbara fought back and retook the lead. The Coyotes hit four of six free throws from Edwards, Jenkins, and Howard to tie the game at 52-52 with six minutes left to play. Howard scored on a layup to give the Coyotes a 54-52 lead and Williams scored on a dunk that brought the fans back into the game with a 56-52 lead. The Vaqueros scored on a three pointer and a free throw but Howard went two for two at the line to keep the Coyotes ahead 58-55. Santa Barbara scored on a layup and Claybourne responded with a bucket in the paint after grabbing the offensive rebound. Williams then attacked the paint for his second dunk to put his team ahead 62-57. Santa Barbara did not go away and cut the lead to a point with a layup and hitting one of two free throws. Claybourne went to the free throw line where he went two for two and gave the home team a 64-61 lead with 12 seconds left on the clock. Santa Barbara ran one last play to force overtime and got one of its shooters an open look from the top of the key, but his shot hit the left side of the rim and bounced away for a Coyote rebound and a win.
One of the big changes that allowed the Coyotes to get the win in the second half came from a better defensive performance. In the first the team seemed sluggish and slow when trying to close out shooters. In the second half, the Coyotes were quicker on the perimeter, closed out faster, and forced the Vaqueros into more contested shots than in the first half. The defense forced plenty of turnovers from shot clock violations or with active hands that poked away the ball for steals. Dugan said there was no change to the defensive scheme it was just his guys getting into a stance. He gave plenty of credit to the Vaquero guards who he said where crafty, could play off two feet's, knew how to pivot, used the jump stop, and where overall good players. But his guys began to make plays, slide their feet, most importantly took the defensive assignment personally. He saw this especially when his players switched on defense and where forced into a mismatch, his guys still fought and forced the Santa Barbara player into a difficult shot.
Dugan did have one concern from the game and that is the free throw shooting of his team. The Coyotes missed 12 free throws in the game including missing six late in the first half.
"That is one emphasis we get to the line. We don't shoot it well and teams will eventually zone us and they will continue to zone us. That is how it will be. We have to be able to be stronger on the rim, they did a good job of crowding us and we have to be stronger and finish," he said. "If they are fouling us we have to make free throws and again it's just practice and some reps and doing it. At this points it's just kind of mental with some of the guys who are good free throw shooters. We will figure it out."
Up next for the Coyotes is a visit from the California Community College Athletic Association preseason South Region No. 1 team Fullerton College. Duggan knows his guys are excited for the chance to test themselves against a quality opponent on Monday night.
"Any chance you get to play No. 1 that is all you need to know. For me, we went down there and they gave it to us. They gave us a 30 ball and they took it to us. They are an extremely highly coached team and they have great players. But our guys will be fired up," The Coyotes coach said. "Anytime you have the chance to play the No. 1 team in Southern California maybe the No. 1 team in the state of California, you are licking your chops and saying hey let's go. I'm excited and I know they are excited but we need to be a lot better because if we play the way we did tonight it will be a long night against them."