El Camino Misses Chance to Beat Powerful Cerritos

Cerritos College and El Camino have a history of playing close games, and Wednesday night’s South Coast Conference matchup at El Camino was no exception.

Cerritos, the JC Athletic Bureau’s top-ranked team, won in overtime, 89-86.

Cerritos improved to 21-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. El Camino is 10-9 and 1-1.

The Warriors’ Tyrone Paul tied the score, 80-80, on a layup as time ran out in regulation. He was fouled by Javier Zavala on the play, but Paul, a sophomore forward, missed the free throw that could have given El Camino the victory.

“I thought we played well, considering,” El Camino Coach Paul Landreaux said. “I’m pleased that they played as hard as they did. We had a chance to win the game. We make the free throw and that’s it. We win. But things happen.”

El Camino started quickly. With 8 minutes 34 seconds left in the first half the Warriors led, 33-21, after a 12-4 run.

Paul and freshman guard Mark Johnson combined for 10 points during the run. Paul had 13 of his 27 points in the first half and Johnson had 15 of 27.

Cerritos scored six unanswered points to cut El Camino’s lead to 41-35 at halftime.

The Warriors, with the second-best defense in the state, did a good job containing the balanced Falcons. El Camino pressured Cerritos into numerous turnovers and often limited the Falcons to only one shot.

But Cerritos fought back to tie the score, 69-69, with 7:45 left to play and led, 78-73, with 1:55 remaining. The Warriors’ Chris Hansen answered with a three-point basket, and Paul scored on a dunk to tie the score, 78-78, with 1:25 left.

Cerritos’ Paul White made a layup, but Paul’s basket at the buzzer tied the score.

“I’m not very happy. We really didn’t play well,” said Coach Jack Bogdanovich, who has led Cerritos to two state titles and six SCC championships. “We played too much on emotion. I’m not real pleased with our patience.”

Mike Reynolds added 16 points for El Camino and Hansen had 10. Cerritos was led by White’s 23 points.

“We just didn’t have enough firepower down the stretch,” Landreaux said.