Image Courtesy of SC Jags
Comet Killer—Kaleb Wilson slams one home to help ignite a win over Palomar College. Southwestern College ended a four-game losing streak by outlasting the Comets, 78-68. The victory was the Jaguars first of 2024.
By Julio Rodriquez
Basketball is a game built for the statuesque, but good things can come in small packages.
With the season on the line, the Jaguars used a package of small but quick guards to flood the paint and pull off a furious comeback to defeat the San Diego Miramar Jets in overtime, 75-71.
Victory seemed unlikely earlier in the evening. SC dribbled aimlessly, passed poorly and shot awkwardly during a slow motion 12-0 run by Miramar. Coach Tyrone Shelley hollered from the sidelines to pick up the tempo, to no avail.
So he decided to go small or go home. Guards Ayden Lockett and Desmond Johnson replaced the double big lineup and lit a fire under the moribund Jaguar’s offense. Shelley noticed shaky interior defense by the Jets and told his guards to exploit it.
They did. Surging from a gaping deficit, SC tied the game, then kept on going to take a 75-71 win. SC finished the season 14-14 and 9-7 in the PCAC. No playoffs this year, but a phalanx of freshmen gives denizens of the Den hope for a roaring ‘24-25 season.
Jag Gym Roundup
LA Harbor Seahawks 64
Southwestern 60
A game that was not as close as it seems, Southwestern was roundly outplayed and shot just 25 percent in the first half. Hope flickered in the second half when the shooting heated up, but it was too late.
Southwestern 89
Golden West Rustlers 72
Back home in the Jaguar Den, Southwestern raced off the a big lead behind hot shooting and never looked back. A gym packed
with rowdy fans fueled the Jags, who
were led by sophomore guard Jaylen Bandy who had 27 points.
Santiago Canyon 87
Southwestern 83
A thriller with lots of offense, the game featured a stellar coming out party for freshman guard Ayden Lockett who was brilliant but could not do it by himself. Lockett rained three pointers and played shut down defense.
“I’ve seen a player who wants to get more minutes and loves the game of basketball,” said an effusive Coach Tyrone Shelley.
Southwestern 54
Irvine Valley 48
Defense dominated the gritty match against Irvine Valley and the Fabulous Freshmen pulled it out during the final minutes with a 10-4 run when it mattered most.
