Gauchos play ELAC for shot at Final Four
The Saddleback men's basketball team plays a familiar face on Saturday night when they host East Los Angeles College for a spot in the final four at the state tournament next weekend. The game can be seen live via streaming video on the Gaucho Sports Network, starting at 7:00 PM.
Saddleback and East Los Angeles have met 19 times in program history with the Gauchos holding a narrow 10-9 lead over the Huskies. The most important meeting of all happened 11.5 months ago when Saddleback defeated East Los Angeles, 50-47, to win its third state title in program history. The Huskies are certain to be looking for revenge after the Gauchos held them to two points in the final 4:49 of the state title game in surging to the win.
East Los Angeles (26-3) was the co-champions of the South Coast North Division and has won five straight games, losing only once since early December. The Huskies got a scare in the opening round of the playoffs in beating Cerritos College in overtime (68-63), but made quick work out of Mt. San Jacinto in the regional semifinals (71-52). East Los Angeles is one of the better scoring teams in the state, averaging 82.4 points-per-game. The Huskies have scored 80-or-more points on 17 occasions, with a season-high 105 against Long Beach City College.
Sophomore guard Iziahiah Sweeny leads East Los Angeles in scoring, averaging 15.1 points-per-game while shooting 52.5% from the field. Sweeny was the co-MVP of the conference this season and was joined by four others on the all-conference squad. Sophomore forward Richard Bivens and freshman guard Chandler Redix were both first team selections while sophomore guards Miles Ford and Jarrell Tate were named to the second team.
Saddleback (29-1) has been the hottest team in the state since December, winning 23 straight games and going undefeated in the Orange Empire Conference. The Gauchos defeated MiraCosta in the quarterfinals last Saturday (79-54) and received a big scare in the semifinals before squeaking out a narrow win over Bakersfield in overtime (64-56).
Saddleback had seven players make the All-Orange Empire Conference team, led by freshman guard T.J. Shorts. The local Tustin High School star averages 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists-per-game, shooting 80% from the free throw line and 55.9% from three point range. He was joined by forwards Breaon Brady and Lyle Hexom along with guard Jalen Hall on the first team while forward Brandon Fagins and guards Devonte Klines and Maurice Jones were named to the second team.
For those that cannot make it to the game, you can watch it on any platform (in HD) on the Gaucho Sports Network starting at 6:55 PM with Saddleback student Ryan Johnson on the call of the game. The cost is $7.95, with all proceeds from the broadcast going back into the athletics department to help promote the athletes and teams.
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