Eduardo Miranda
The Daily Independent
After opening Inland Empire Athletic Conference with a road win over Palo Verde, the Cerro Coso men's basketball team returned home for its conference home opener against Victor Valley on Dec. 17. The Coyotes and Rams played a very close game for two halves, with six ties including four in the first half, and six lead changes including four in the first half.
The Coyotes had a chance in the final seconds to steal the win from Victor Valley, but Demarris Day's last second heave hit off the left side of the rim. Cerro Coso fell to Victor Valley 67-66. Head coach Chris Dugan was unavailable for comments after the game.
Cerro Coso shot 40.7% from the field, 28.6% from the three-point line, and 60.9% from the free-throw line. The defense held Victor Valley to 44.3% from the field, 30.4% from the three-point line, and 60% from the free throw line.
The Coyotes won the rebounding battle 37 to 28 and the offensive glass battle eight to five, and turnovers six to 10. But the Coyotes lost every other category. They lost assists 18 to 10, steals six to five, and blocks six to zero.
The Coyotes had four players – three starters and one second unit – score in double digits. Lance Bailey Jr led the team with 17 points off the bench and grabbed four rebounds. Terrance Sims Jr. led the starters with 12 points and a team-high seven boards. Jay Matthews had 11 points with six rebounds before fouling out. Day had 11 points and a team-high seven assists.
The Coyotes close 2025 with a road trip to Chaffey on Saturday with tip-off at 1 p.m. They return to action in the new year with a home game against Copper Mountain on Jan. 3 at 1 p.m.
The first half began with the visitors opening with a 5-0 run until Issiakoi Aminou hit a floater and Bailey hit a three on a pass from Day to tie the game at 5-5. The Coyotes' first lead came on a layup from Day for a 7-5 lead and forcing the visitors to call a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, the Rams went on a 6-0 run until Day found Sims for a layup and Bailey scored a contested layup to tie it at 11-11. But the Rams responded with a bucket and forced Dugan to call a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Arki Thorton Jr. was fouled but missed both his free throws. Marc Vincent found Bailey for a long two with the team trailing 15-13. After a timeout from Victor Valley, Matthews completed a three-point play to cut the Coyotes' deficit to one, 17-16. He tied the game after going one-for-two at the line and Day made two free throws after a bucket from the visitors to tie the game at 19-19. A layup from Bailey on a steal and pass from Sims put the Coyotes behind by one. Day found Matthews for a layup to give the Coyotes a 23-22 lead. After taking the lead the Rams went on a 5-0 run.
Ade Daramola ended the Rams' run with a corner three cutting the deficit to one. With 21 seconds left in the half, Matthews made a layup on an assist from Day cutting the deficit to one at 29-28. The Coyote defense held strong to go into the half trailing by one.
The second half began with the visitors scoring, and Aminou responded by making both his free throws after being fouled. Cerro Coso took a one-point lead after Sims made both his free throws for a 32-31 lead. Aminou made a layup on an in-bound play, and a jumper from the baseline by Sims gave the home team a three-point lead. The Rams scored the six points until Daramola hit a baseline jumper on a pass from Day. A hook shot from Matthews kept the Coyotes within striking distance with 14 minutes left in the game.
Bailey hit a three to snap a 6-0 run and had the Coyotes call a timeout. Day found Bailey for a jumper, and after a defensive stop Bailey was fouled but missed both his free throws, keeping the Coyotes trailing by five, 50-45. A Matthews free-throw and two free throws from Day cut the deficit to two. A layup from Aminou tied the game at 50-50, and after a Victor Valley bucket, Aminou made another layup to tie the game at 52-52. This was the last tie of the game.
Victor Valley went one-for-two from the free-throw line to retake the lead and then scored five unanswered points. Sims made a layup and Day hit a jumper shot to cut the deficit to two, 58-56. An alley-oop from Day to Sims and a three by Bailey cut the deficit to two, 63-61. Sims missed his free throw, and Day made his two free throws with 35 seconds left with Cerro Coso down 65-63. Day went one-for-two and Sims made a layup to cut the deficit to one, 67-66.
The Coyotes made an intentional foul to send a Rams player to the free-throw line. The visitor missed the free throw, and Aminou grabbed the rebound but could not find a teammate quickly to get into the half-court offense. Instead, it forced Day to take a contested three that hit the left side of the rim and rolled out.