State #20 Men's Hoops Stung By 2 Ranked North Teams At Santa Rosa Tourney

Recently moved up to #20 on the State Top 30 Poll, the Pasadena City College men's basketball team was tripped up by two other ranked teams in going 1-2 at the Santa Rosa Junior College Kris Kringle Tournament Dec. 19-21.

The Lancers (8-5 overall) lost to #25 Redwoods, 74-69, picked up a win over unranked Shasta, 87-80, before #27 Santa Rosa upended them, 80-73, in the final of the round-robin event. 

Against Redwoods, PCC rallied from a 20-5 deficit to take a 39-32 halftime lead. Ahead by as much as 10 on a 3-pointer by Darrius Freeman at 42-32, PCC saw Redwoods bury 3-pointer after 3-pointer, the most important a bomb by Ty Neff with 3:42 left that put the dagger into the Lancers at 70-63.

Dylan Swillis had an all-around spectacular performance in scoring 25 points (11-for-16 from the field), 13 rebounds, a career-high seven steals and five assists while Freeman tallied 17 points (three treys). 

In the victory over Shasta, PCC got inspired play off the bench by Julian Thompkins, who knocked down four 3s for 12 points, LaQwon Cole on his 11 points, five assists and two steals, and Brandin Jackson, who was the third reserve to reach double figures with 10 points.

Swillis again was a force in totaling 26 points (9-for-15 from the floor, 7-of-8 at the free throw line), 10 boards, four assists and two blocks while Freeman added 10 points. State assists leader Jalen Vazquez dished out 12 helpers with six rebounds and four points. Kaiden Fine added eight points (perfect 6-for-6 at the line) with seven rebounds.

PCC shot well in all facets, hitting 51 percent on total field goals, 50 percent from 3-point land (10-for-20), and 83 percent at the charity stripe (19-for-23). 

The finale v. SRJC was a roller coaster ride that featured 12 lead changes and 11 ties. PCC took its last lead, 67-65, on a reverse layup by Swillis with 3:14 left, but the Bear Cubs responded on back-to-back, 3-pointers from Andrew Pengel as the sharp shooter led everyone on 36 points. 

Vazquez, who scored 21 points, including three treys, and Fine, who added 20 points, each reached their season highs while Swillis again was proficient on FGs, making 8-for-13 as part of his 19 points plus seven rebounds. The team shot a season-low 38.9 percent, making just 28 of 72 attempts and only 7-of-31 on long range fires.

On Dec. 14, PCC battled #8 San Bernardino Valley, but the host Wolverines came away with an 88-80 triumph. The Lancers got into a hole early at 25-9 and played catch up the rest of the way. Swillis poured in 21 points with nine rebounds while Donovan Ford was perfect off the bench, making all seven of his shots and a free throw for 15 points.

Quinlan Daly also had a strong game in reserve with 14 points (trio of 3s), six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Vazquez contribute 12 points and six assists and Cooper Creamer, one of the team's main five starters this season, chipped in eight points. 

Vazquez continues to pace all point guards in California at 8.3 assists per contest and the Shasta game was the fourth time he reached 12 or more helpers in a game this season. Like Vazquez, who also has a 12.3 points-per-game clip, Swillis is averaging a double-double this year and is second in the entire, 12-team South Coast Conference in both scoring (21.9) and rebounding (10.1). 

On Saturday, Dec. 28, PCC plays at Palomar to finish out the year 2024, then return to the floor with a SCC crossover contest at Compton College on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.

Coach Ryan Frazer is one win away from a mini PCC milestone in looking for his 50th victory as Lancers head coach in just his third season. He is seven victories from 100 in his career with his first 44 wins during his tenure at MiraCosta College (2018-2022).