20th-seeded Compton upsets No. 13 MiraCosta to advance to second round or regional
3C2A Men's Basketball Regionals Brackets: SoCal l NorCal
OCEANSIDE - With the game on the line, the #20 seed Compton College men's basketball team pressed #13 MiraCosta and the defensive strategy paid off.
After Kentrell Freeman tied the game on a free throw, Rey Daniels forced a turnover on the ensuing inbounds play and Zoe Holman scooped up the loose ball to score the game-winning basket with 12 seconds left as Compton won its SoCal Regional Round 1 Regional Playoff over the host Spartans, 70-68, on Wednesday evening.
Compton forced another MC turnover that closed out the clock as Compton (20-9), the South Coast Conference South Division Co-Champion, advances to play another SCC foe #4 Mt. San Antonio in a Round 2 playoff on Saturday, March 1. Tip-off is 7 p.m.
Coach Keith Hollimon's squad trailed by 10 points early and by eight, 53-45, with 11 minutes left. However, Compton stormed back as Jeremy Cook's two free throws capped an 11-0 run and the lead. MiraCosta pulled ahead again at 64-58, but again Compton responded on an Elijah Evans 3-pointer and a layup by Jeremy Cook.
Holman, the SCC South Player of the Year, scored 24 points (8-for-12 from the field, 8-for-9 from the free throw line), Evans added 13 points and Cook was impressive with 12 points, five steals and five rebounds. Daniels added six points.
Compton lost a close battle with Mt. SAC, 76-74, on Jan. 27. The winner of the Compton-Mt. SAC contest advances to the Regional Finals on Saturday against #12 San Bernardino Valley.
(Compton College Athletics)