Knights Advance to Sweet Sixteen Behind Stifling Defense!

The No. 8 Knights have advanced to the sweet sixteen for the third consecutive season after getting past No. 24 Copper Mountain, 66-56, in a second round playoff with Lorenzo Wright leading the way offensively with 18 points off the bench. The Knights (24-5) will travel to play at No. 1 Fullerton (28-1) on Saturday, March 4 at 7 p.m. in a Southern California regional final with the winner heading to the state championship quarterfinals.

It's always tough to beat a team three times in a season, but San Diego City was up to the challenge on Saturday night. After a slow start, the Knights turned a 5-point deficit into a 38-29 halftime lead with four Knights scoring eight points in the first half, including Al Green, Anthony Howell, Logan Huston, and Wright.

The Knights shot 56.7% in the half and it appeared as though this game would look like the first meeting with Copper Mountain when the Knights won in a blowout, but Copper Mountain fought back. 

Led by Jaylon Lee's 18 points, Copper Mountain got right back into the game with a 7-0 run early in the second half to cut City's lead down to four. After a 3-pointer by Wright, Copper Mountain's Rev Reviere responded with a 3 of his own to get the Fighting Cacti back to within 45-41 with 15:38 left to play.

The Knights turned their screws on both ends of the floor from that point on as they extended their lead back up to 14 after going on a 10-0 run, which was bookended by Wright's second and third 3-pointers of the half.

The Knights shot only 33.3% in the second half, but it was their defensive prowess that kept them in control for the final eight minutes of the game. They held Copper Mountain to 42% shooting for the game and forced the Fighting Cacti into 20 turnovers, which the Knights took advantage of by scoring 25 points off those miscues.

Those turnovers also helped the Knights to a 13-2 advantage on fast break points. 

Anjay Cortez scored eight of his 12 points in the second half and also added three rebounds and two steals. Howell finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in City's third win over Copper Mountain this season.

Green had 10 points, five assists, and two steals, while Kailen Rains and Huston each chipped in with eight points a piece. 

The Knights will now turn their attention to next Saturday's regional final at Fullerton. It will be the second meeting of the season with Fullerton winning, 97-84, on its home floor on December 8. The Hornets, who have been the No. 1 ranked team in the state for most of the season, have won 21 in a row and have lost only once this season.

Saturday's regional final will be the third time in the last six years that the Knights have faced Fullerton in the postseason with the Knights winning the previous two. San Diego City defeated Fullerton, 53-51, to win the state championship in 2017, and the Knights also won a second round playoff, 63-61, at Fullerton in 2020.

Whoever wins on Saturday will advance to the state championship quarterfinals, which will be held at West Hills College Lemoore on March 9. The semifinals and final will also be played there on March 11 and 12. 

Admission for the playoffs is $12 for the general public and $8 for students, faculty, staff, senior citizens age 60 and over, and children less than 12 years of age. Cash only at the door. 

The game will be live-streamed for free on Fullerton's YouTube channel.