News

December 12, 2007

It didn’t come easy or fast but hard work, defense, and key baskets favored Los Angeles City College in upsetting top-ranked Irvine Valley College, 77-74, to win the Rio Hondo College Classic on Sat., Dec. 8.

Irvine Valley College was de facto highest ranked among all southern California community colleges with an 11-0 record entering the Championship game of the Classic. LA City advanced to the finals of the Rio Hondo Classic following victories over highly regarded Santa Monica College (59-57) and Santa Ana College (77-74) to improve to 10-2.

LA City sprinted to a 42-32 halftime lead behind the solid guard play of freshman point guard Branden Fisher (Chicago, Ill.) and fellow frosh guard Scott Sterling (Bronx, NYC), team shooting of 15-25 (.600) from the field, and 8-for-8 at the free throw line.

IVC countered early in the second half with a 15-4 run to take the lead, 47-46, with 14:30 remaining. It was a nip-n-tuck affair the rest of the game with the deciding points coming from freshman reserve guard, James White (Jackson, Miss.), when he made two free throws with 9.7-seconds remaining to seal the three-point margin.

The last time the Cubs defeated a top-ranked team was in the 2001-02 State Championship when they downed No. 1-ranked San Francisco City College (34-1) in the second round of the California Final Eight in Stockton, Calif. Los Angeles City finished State Runner-up that season with a 30-9 record.

Fisher was named Classic Most Valuable Player after compiling three-game totals of 70 points, 12 assists, and 17 rebounds including 18 points against Irvine Valley. Sterling earned All-Classic honors behind 43 points and nine rebounds in three games.

The 11-2 Cubs are ranked 8th in California and host Cypress College this Saturday in The Gym.