Holiday Miracle: Worst Loss Avenged As Men's Basketball Wins 1st Game

Sports is as much about redemption and second chances than simply the better team always wins. On Nov. 18, the Pasadena City College men's basketball team was handed a 50-point loss, 92-42, by  Glendale at the Skip Robinson Classic. It was one of the worst losses in school history and the largest margin of defeat suffered by a Lancers team at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium since in it opened in 1999.

On Tuesday night, Glendale returned to the HP Gym, and this time PCC had a plan. The Lancers jumped out to a 16-7 lead, then 27-9, and held a 36-24 advantage by halftime. Despite a Vaqueros rally that cut it to 41-39, Pasadena stuck to its stifling zone defense and never relinquished the lead in a stunning 69-65 victory. The win snapped the team's 12-game losing streak and was the first under interim head coach Hosie Ward. Glendale saw its record slip to 8-6.

"When we first played them, we played man defense and they just blew past us," Ward said. "We put in a 1-2-2 zone for this game, and it prevented Glendale's wings from getting loose for easy shots. Our players learned what can happened by just slowing it down, forcing the opponent to make tougher shots. Two players that were consistent on D for us were Brandon Torimaru and Joevontay Clayton. I'm happy for the players because they now realize what they are capable of doing when they listen and follow a game plan."

Ward and long-time assistant coach Jesse Ellis are directing a 14-player roster that includes 12 freshmen and two sophomores, one who was a reserve on the 2019-2020 squad.

Offensively, Devan Ford led the Lancers with 20 points and Jordan Flowers added 16 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. Torimaru hit three 3-pointers as part of his 15 points and Clayton contributed six points, 12 rebounds (nine on the defensive boards), and four assists. Joseph Rousseau also played well defensively with three blocks, two steals, three defensive rebounds, and two points. David Perry came off the bench to score six points. 

With less freedom to run fast breaks and setting up 1-on-1 opportunities, Glendale was a shooting mess, especially in the first half when the Vaqueros were 5-for-38 from the field (13.2 percent). They finished making 28 percent (21-of-75). The Lancers were a solid 24-for-56 (43 percent) and 8-for-20 from beyond the 3-point arc. 

After Jared Jones cut the PCC lead and capped a 13-0 Glendale run to cut it to 41-39, the Lancers responded with a 12-3 spurt that put the game away at 53-42. Ford scored six consecutive points in the run and Perry sank a huge trey that distanced it to 50-42 with 8:20 left. The Vaqueros led just once in this game at 1-0. 

PCC's scheduled contest For Friday, Dec. 17 at El Camino College was postponed due to Warriors COVID-19 issues. The Lancers return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 21 when they host a 1 p.m. non-conference contest v. College of the Canyons.