SBVC (9-0) rolled into the Palomar Thanksgiving Tournament on a six game winning streak and a top three ranking in the state and in the second round ran into the Saddleback Gauchos, eventually securing another Tournament title.

SBVC opened up their third tournament of the 2015-16 season facing the San Diego Miramar Jets and after a lopsided first half, the second half became a shootout, but SBVC would prevail, 102-89. Sophomore guard Perris Hicks (Pasadena H.S.) led SBVC with 18 points, on 8 of 12 shooting, collecting nine assists and three steals.

Sophomore forward JaCardo Hawkins (Gonzales (LA) East Ascension) had 17 points on 6 of 8 shooting and went 5 of 7 from the free throw line. Freshman guard Ja Morgan (Las Vegas (NV) Palo Verde) and freshman guard Robert Lewis (Compton H.S.) leapt off of the bench to add 17 points each, with Morgan going a perfect 11 for 11 from the free throw line and Lewis hitting 5 of 6 free throws.  

Freshman forward Brandon Jolley (Pasadena H.S.) and sophomore center Steven Adams (Pasadena H.S.) added 10 points each, as Adams secured his first double-double of the season, with 10 boards and Jolley added four blocks in the victory.

The victory over the Jets set up an early season showdown between two of the premier teams in Southern California, as SBVC faced off with the defending state champion Saddleback Gauchos. Much like the 2014-15 SoCal Finals where these two titans of the rim met last, it was a low scoring, defensive grinder of a game, and both teams went into the break with the Gauchos holding a five point lead, 35-30. Undeterred, SBVC clamped down on defense and severely restrained the Gauchos offensive production, but it wasn't until the final seconds that SBVC hit a few key free throws to secure the 63-60 win.

Jolley led all scorers with 20 points, collecting another double-double with 10 boards, and going 10 for 12 from the line, with three assists. Lewis jumped off of the bench to add 14 points on 3 of 6 shooting, going a perfect 5 for 5 from the charity stripe.

Hicks added 11 points on 3 of 9 shooting, going 5 of 6 from the line and lobbing up 3 assists and Hawkins contributed 10 points on 5 of 5 shooting and 4 huge blocks in the win.

In the Championship Final, SBVC took on the host Palomar Comets, where SBVC took a six point lead at the half, 36-30. SBVC then tried desperately to pull away early in the second half, but the hosts kept hanging around, finally SBVC took the game, 77-68.

Four of SBVC's starters scored in double figures as Hawkins led all scorers with 19 points on 5 of 11 shooting, going a perfect 9 for 9 from the free throw line, all while collecting a double-double with 12 total boards and two blocks. Lewis contributed 15 points on 4 of 6 shooting, going 2 of 4 from beyond the arc.

Jolley put up 14 points on 3 of 4 shooting, going 8 of 15 from the charity stripe and Hicks added 12 points on 3 of 9 shooting and tossed in five assists in the title game.

Photo by Wade Byars.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information.