With hopes of extending their playoff game to a third overtime, the Cerritos College men's basketball team saw their season come to an end after missing the final shot in a 94-91 double overtime loss to Copper Mountain College on Wednesday. The Falcons (19-10), who were seeded #9 for the Southern California Regional Playoffs, had already defeated the #24-seeded Fighting Cacti, 90-70 earlier in the season.

Trailing for most of the first overtime, Cerritos took a 79-78 lead after sophomore Justin Stephens (Gahr HS) hit a short jumper with 15 seconds remaining. With one last chance to win the game, Copper Mountain's Jaylon Lee missed the second of two free throws with two seconds left after he was whistled to have been fouled while at least five players were battling for a rebound.

The Fighting Cacti opened the second overtime with Lydell Boyd hitting a three-pointer and extended their lead to 87-81 with 2:41 left after a Jack Garrison three-pointer. The Falcons battled back and received a pair of free throws from sophomore Jalen Shores (Lakewood HS) after a hard foul. After Copper Mountain regained their six-point lead, Stephens connected on a three-pointer and was fouled on the play. Although he missed the free throw in an attempt for a four-point play, Cerritos drew to within 91-89 with 30 seconds left after a Dennis Johnson (Compton HS) layup.

Copper Mountain responded by converting both of their free throws after getting fouled, with Stephens coming right back to score on a backdoor layup. With a chance to make it a two-possession game after getting fouled, Boyd missed the second of two free throws with 15 seconds left, which gave the Falcons one last shot to tie the game. Sophomore Gorden Boykins (St. Anthony HS) got a good look at the basket, but his shot was off line and the season came to a conclusion.

Shores led the team with 25 points, which included going 11-for-11 from the free throw line, while Boykins recorded 20 points, six rebounds and four assists in another strong 94-foot game. Stephens turned in 15 points, with freshman Taeo Thomas (Verbum Dei HS) coming off the bench to contribute six points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Photos by Daryl Peterson