Back-to-Back 101-Point Games Highlight PCC Kennedy Thanksgiving Classic

While the Pasadena City College-hosted John J. Kennedy Thanksgiving Classic ended with a loss to San Bernardino Valley, the high-scoring Lancers men’s basketball team delighted fans in attendance at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium with back-to-back, 101-point games on November 29 and 30.

On Saturday, the Lancers followed their 101-60 win over Occidental JVs with a 101-80 triumph over Barstow. In the Barstow win, sophomore guard Jeffrey Dockett scored 28 points, including draining five 3-pointers and adding a team-high seven assists and four steals.

Sophomore forward Taj Spencer made 9-for-13 shots from the field to score 24 points and sophomore guard Brandon Joseph added 17 points (8-for-12 shooting), seven rebounds, and five assists. Frosh guard Adrian Miles chipped in 13 points (three 3-point bombs) with six rebounds and five assists. Starting freshman center Faruk Oyalade grabbed 10 rebounds (scored five points) and sophomore guard Rashad Smith talied eight points off the bench.

Barstow’s Javone Rabon topped everyone with 37 points (15-for-20 shooting on field goals) and 10 rebounds. PCC led 46-36 af halftime and raised the lead to as much as 32 points, 96-64, on a Dockett trey with 6:15 left. With 2:42 left, Bryce Clifton’s jumper put PCC over the century mark.

During a 3-game period that included the final game of the Alvin Hunter Classic, the Lancers scored 300 points. It is the most points scored by a PCC team over three games going as far back as the 1960s. In 1977-78, the Lancers scored 297 points in a 3-game span that opened that season.

On Sunday, the Lancers ran into San Bernardino Valley and suffered their second loss to the Wolverines, 68-60. It was nearly the identical score from when PCC lost to them at the SBVC Alvin Hunter Classic, 67-58, on November 15. The Lancers saw their four-game winning streak end, but are 6-3 overall after nine games.

PCC led 34-30 at halftime, and used a fast-break basket by Joseph to up the advantage to 41-36 with 14:08 left. San Bernardino (7-2) rallied with a 21-6 run that gave the Wolverines a commanding 57-46 lead with 7:49 remaining. The Lancers could not recover from the spurt.

Spencer posted a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds while Oyalade had 15 points (7-for-9 from the free throw line). Miles tallied 12 points and Dockett was limited to just six points despite playing all 40 minutes. For SBVC, Keith Smith led its attack with 18 points.

All-John J. Kennedy Classic Team (no MVP)
PASADENA CITY–Jeffrey Dockett, Taj Spencer
San Bernardino Valley–Kindell Kinloch, Steven Adams
East Los Angeles–Aaron Cheatum, Marcus Romain
Barstow–Javone Rabon
Ventura–Jalen Young
Occidental JV–Joe Compagno

Other scores from Saturday, November 30: 
East LA 88, Occidental JV 58–Huskies’ Zack Hinton 16 points, 11 rebounds
San Bernardino Valley 81, Ventura 70–SBVC’s Gerry Blakes 23 points; Pirates’ Young 25 points
Other scores from Sunday, December 1:
East LA 87, Ventura 75–ELAC’s Cheatum 21 points, Ventura’s Ivan Dooley 26 points
Barstow 87, Occidental JV 75–Vikings’ Rabon 33 points, 18 rebounds, Cedric Young 25 points