Shorthanded Coyotes win seventh straight game

Eduardo Miranda

The Daily Independent

The Cerro Coso men's basketball team entered the game against Mt. San Jacinto on a six-game winning streak. Despite facing the Eagles undermanned with only six players suited up to play, and playing the final two minutes with four on the court, the Coyotes came away with an 88-74 win. They are now tied for second place in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference with two games remaining.

The Coyotes had four of the six players finish in double-digit scoring with Trent Gordon leading the team with 22 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. Jami Hagger had 20 points and a steal off the bench. Jon Leggett had 18 points with seven rebounds and four assists. Gavin Flowers finished with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Tzahari Trevino finished with nine points, six assists, and four steals before fouling out. Jason Morris had seven points and seven rebounds.

The Coyotes won each individual battle against the Eagles beginning with rebound battle 37-35 and the offensive rebound battle 9-8. They won the assist battle 14-9, steals 9-5, and blocks 2-0.

Playing shorthanded, the Coyotes had to be careful about getting into foul trouble in the first half. But the home team also did not allow that to keep them from being aggressive and they jumped out to an early 10-7 lead before the visitors called the first timeout of the game. In the run, Cerro Coso scored through Gordon, Morris, and Leggett with three jump shots. Coming out of the timeout, the Coyotes went on a 7-0 run with a corner three from Hagger, Morris scoring on a layup, and Gordon with a dunk to cap the run before a Cerro Coso timeout.

But the visitors stormed back and took the lead at 28-27 with six minutes left in the half. The Coyotes retook the lead on a dunk by Flowers. The visitors tied the game and Cerro Coso retook the lead on a dunk by Gordon. After Mt. San Jacinto tied the game at 34-34, the home team went on an 8-0 run with buckets from Morris, Flowers, and Trevino. Both teams traded baskets for the final two minutes with Cerro Coso going into the half leading 50-41 after an and-one by Gordon with three seconds left on the clock.

The second half began with the Coyotes scoring the first four points with a dunk by Gordon and a jumper by Leggett. The visitors responded scoring the next four points, and the Coyotes answered back scoring the next five points with Gordon scoring a layup, Morris going 1-for-2 at the line, and Flowers scoring a layup for a 59-47 lead.

That led to a timeout by the home team, and after the timeout the visitors scored and the home team went on a 14-0 run. The run began with Trevino making both his free throws and Hagger scoring back-to-back three-pointers, forcing a Mt. San Jacinto timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Trevino went to the line and hit both his free throws, Gordon went to the line and made one, and that brought a timeout by the Eagles. Hagger hit a three-pointer after the timeout to cap a 73-49 lead.

With 2:25 left in the game, Trevino fouled out on a reach in foul and received a technical for protesting the call, and nine seconds later Gordon fouled out leaving the Coyotes with only four players. The Eagles cut the lead to 10, 79-69, with head coach Chris Dugan calling a timeout. For the final 1:30 left, Cerro Coso traded baskets and ran as much clock as it could. Flowers scored three points on a putback and made one of two from the free-throw line. Leggett went 6-for-6 in the final minute from the line to secure the 88-74 win.

Cerro Coso, now 18-8 overall, is on the road Wednesday visiting San Bernardino Valley in a battle for second place with both teams tied at 12-2 in conference play. The Coyotes end the season at home on Friday hosting Barstow before learning their playoff fate. Tipoff is 7 p.m.