Rojas and Simon lead Panthers to victory over Mt. San Jacinto College
The Chaffey College men's basketball team extend their winning streak to nine games after a thrilling 110-102 overtime win against Mt. San Jacinto College last night. The Panthers now carry a 17-4 overall record and hold a one-game lead in the conference (9-0) over San Bernardino Valley College (17-4, 8-1). The two teams are set for a pivotal game tomorrow evening at San Bernardino.
The Chaffey College men's basketball team extend their winning streak to nine games after a thrilling 110-102 overtime win against Mt. San Jacinto College last night. The Panthers now carry a 17-4 overall record and hold a one-game lead in the conference (9-0) over San Bernardino Valley College (17-4, 8-1). The two teams are set for a pivotal game tomorrow evening at San Bernardino.
Mirroring their earlier matchup this year, both teams battled hard. Every time Chaffey seemed to pull away, the Eagles responded, stopping the Panthers from building momentum and comfortable lead. Overall, there were 10 lead changes with 13 points being the biggest lead by the Panthers.
Towards the latter end of the second half, Chaffey had built a 12 point lead, as usual, the Eagles shooting caught on fire, and not only closed the gap, but took a 82-80 lead. Mt. San Jacinto's RJ Dawson, the catalyst of the comeback converted on 5 of his three-pointers, finishing with a team high of 26 points.
At the end of regulation, all tied up at 91, the Panthers had an opportunity for the last game winning shot, but was unable to convert, leading the match into overtime.
In extra time, the Panthers outscored Mt. San Jacinto College 19-11 to secure the win. Rojas once again carried the team, adding 12 points to his 48-point total. For the night, Rojas also added 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal. He was clutch during crucial free throws in overtime, finishing 16-19 from the charity stripe.
The floor general, Nate Simon, was also key to the hard-fought win, contributing 24 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal. Simon was also a reliable 10-13 from the free-throw line.
"We have the luxury of having Nate Simon as our truest point guard," adds Klein. "He can distribute the ball well but is also a pure scorer like Rojas. Both their decision-making ,leadership and experience feed this team. Although Rojas is more ball-dominant, Simon is our energizer. He does everything from setting up the play, to getting steals, to taking charges—he'll stick his nose in anywhere and compete against anyone."
Elijah Goad, Mourad Toure, and Jace Conway also delivered solid performances. Goad turned in 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block. Toure had 8 points and 7 rebounds. Conway contributed 7 points and 6 rebounds.
"It was a really good game for both teams. Regardless of how well your team is playing, when the other team gets hot, they get hot, and boy were they on fire," said head coach Jeff Klein. "Our defense was good, but their shooting was even better."
One key factor Klein always emphasizes is for his team to get to the free-throw line. And tonight, they did just that, converting 28 of 36 attempts. "One goal we always have as a team is to make more free throws than the other team attempts," adds Klein. "Rojas alone made 16; the Eagles only attempted 15 all game."
There were a couple of areas that Klein pointed out that needed improvement after the game. Although the Panthers outrebounded the Eagles 51-40, there were moments when players seemed hesitant, looking at each other to grab the loose ball. In a couple of possessions, the Eagles capitalized on these second-chance opportunities, converting them into three-pointers. "We have to improve that immediately," emphasized Klein. "We can't let good teams get second-chance looks because they will hurt you."
The Panthers stay on the road, facing San Bernardino Valley College tomorrow, who currently trail them by one game in the conference standings. Klein explains that the coaching staff doesn't need to create any additional motivation for the game. Both teams have been rivals for years, and many of the players know each other from the area. In the five years of the IEAC's existence, San Bernardino Valley and Chaffey have split the conference titles, earning two each.
Although this game is important, the coaching staff reminds the team that "every game is worth one win," Klein remarks. "Yes, this is a big game, but it's only one win if we come out victorious. This league is strong; it's not just about SBVC or Chaffey. We need to treat this just like any other game moving forward because any team in this conference can beat another on any given night."