Let’s begin a series on community college teams performing well or simply better than expected this season and attempt to identify some of the reasons for this success.
Cabrillo College, under Tony Marcopulos and James Page, has achieved an 11-3 record at the moment, riding an eight-game winning streak. This despite lacking size and experience.
The Seahawks own wins on the road versus City College San Francisco and Cañada College with its three losses being on the road to Las Positas College, Santa Rosa Junior College (in the Shasta tourney) and Fresno City College. Cabrillo is also 5-1 on neutral courts.
The most challenging upcoming matchups are in mid-January at home and early February — both versus Gavilan College.
Also for the future, 6-foot-9 Avery Edwards who was averaging 11.9 points plus 7.8 rebounds in nine games as a starter, is no longer with the team. In the off-season, high-scoring freshman Kobe Ordonio transferred to Gavilan College.
The numbers: Cabrillo is averaging 68.4 points per game on 45% overall shooting and 33.5% accuracy on treys (26.4 attempts an outing) alongside a remarkable plus 15.4 rebounding margin.
Conversely, the Seahawks are allowing just 59.4 points per contest on an outstanding defensive effort of 38.4% overall shooting by opponents, 31.8% on treys.
Surface Analysis: Despite a lack of size on the roster, credit the Aptos crew’s success to defense, rebounding plus enough offense. Cabrillo’s zone defense is extremely effective in preventing good looks and, importantly, hasn’t hindered team rebounding production. The Seahawks are also meshing well as an unselfish unit.
The recent 60-49 victory over Foothill College with four players scoring in double figures and a player high of 15 points is a prime example of all of the above. This was an 11-point victory with Cabrillo shooting 43% overall, 6-24 from three-point range and earning just 12 free throws. Foothill managed just 13 second half points.
The primary contributors:
- 6-foot guard Trey Whitley 14.8 points, 4.2 assists (formerly at West Valley College, this is the first season he has been on the court for significant time)
- 6-foot-6 forward Yeskin Williams 7.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists (a JC transfer who didn’t play last season at D1 South Carolina Upstate)
- 6-foot-5 forward Lenorris Mincey 8.9 points, 7.0 rebounds (he has upgraded each of his numbers thus far this season)
- 6-foot-5 forward Davon Northcutt 7.3 points, 5.6 rebounds (played at just 11 games as a freshman at El Camino College)
- 6-foot-2 guard Dymond Hanks 7.1 (a freshman out of Texas)
Roster:
- Archie Myles G 6’2″ 180 Fr Crosby, TX (Dayton H.S.)
- Trey Whitley G 6’0″ 190 So Santa Cruz, CA (Harbor H.S./ West Valley College)
- Yeskin Williams F 6’6″ 210 So. Pearland, TX (Manvel H.S./Univ. South Carolina-Upstate)
- Darnell White G 5’10” 150 So. Santa Cruz, CA (Santa Cruz H.S./Monterey Peninsula College)
- Lenorris Mincey F 6’5″ 210 So. Apopka, FL (Wekiva H.S.)
- Dymond Hanks G 6’2″ 170 Fr. Sugar Land, TX. (Stephen F. Austin H.S.)
- Gabe Mack G 6’1″ 185 Fr. Milwaukee, WI (Martin Luther H.S.)
- Makai Stewart G 6’0″ 150 So Fremont, CA (Washington H.S./ San Jose City)
- Anshar Mitchell G 6’1″ 160 Fr Missouri City, TX (Saint Thomas H.S./Prairie View A&M Univ.)
- Hunter Seymour F 6’8″ 215 Fr Charlotte, NC (Northside Christian H.S.)
- Davon Northcutt F 6’5″ 175 So Aptos, CA (San Lorenzo Valley H.S./ El Camino CC)
- Myron Dews C 6’9″ 205 Fr Houston, TX (Alief Taylor H.S.)
- Sylvester Campbell C 6’5″ 215 Fr Milwaukee, WI (Martin Luther H.S
“Hungerford dismissed as CR men’s basketball coach”
SATURDAY
Powered in part by Malik (Jesuit High) Duffy’s 17 points and eight boards, Chico State handled Cal Poly Pomona 70-66.
Cal State East Bay turned away Cal State Monterey Bay 79-72 as Nai (SJSU) Carlisle led with 17 points and teammate Ant (San Lorenzo High/Cañada College) Navarette posted a 12 point, 12 rebound double-double. Charley (Granite Bay High) Tooley paced the Otters with 23 points.
MONDAY
Jesse (Drake High) Hunt provided 12 points, nine boards and five assists in Eastern Washington’s 65-55 defeat of Idaho State.
Maxwell Anderson: “Congrats big fella, glad to be apart of your journey#chopthewood#TTP#300
“Boys Prep of the Week: Branson’s Lukas Prongos” Danny Schmidt