No. 8 City to Play No. 24 Copper Mountain in Saturday's 2nd Round Playoff

After Wednesday night's first round games, the Knights now know their opponent for this weekend's second round CCCAA regional playoff and it is a familiar one. The No. 8 Knights (25-3) will play No. 24 Copper Mountain (17-12), who upset No. 9 Cerritos, for the third time this season on Saturday at 7 p.m. at City's Harry West Gym.

The Knights won the first meeting, 74-49, in the opening round of the Grossmont tournament on December 3. Al Green led the Knights with 13 points and Anjay Cortez added 12 points as the Knights pulled away in the second half.

San Diego City was shorthanded in the second meeting at Harry West Gym on December 30, but edged out a 58-53 win by sinking 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute. Green led the Knights in scoring in that game as well with 23 points to go with six rebounds. 

Copper Mountain won its final two Inland Empire Athletic Conference games to finish fifth in league and will now come into Saturday's game riding a 3-game win streak after knocking off Cerritos, 94-91, in double overtime of Wednesday's first round playoff.

The Knights wrapped up second place in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference by winning their final two games and eight of their last nine to finish 14-2.

San Diego City has won all nine home games this season, while Copper Mountain has gone 6-6 on the road. 

Saturday's winner will advance to play either No. 1 Fullerton (27-1) or No. 16 West L.A. (19-10) on Saturday, March 4. The winner of that third round game will punch their ticket to the state championship quarterfinals, which will be held at West Hills College Lemoore beginning on March 9.

The Knights last made it to the state tournament quarterfinals in 2017 and 2018 when they advanced all the way to the title game in both years and won the state championship in 2017. 

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.

Saturday's second round game will be live-streamed on the Knights' YouTube channel.