After a miraculous three game winning streak that started in the regional tournament, the Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs basketball team suffered their biggest and most painful loss against the San Francisco Rams on March 14. Ventura College played host to the Elite 8, the California Community College Athletic Association’s State Tournament which hosted the top eight teams. SMC faced off against the #1 City College of San Francisco Rams.
The game began with the Rams scoring a dunk within the first 12 seconds. SMC responded with a layup from Jordan Wilson (#5). SMC’s Lucas Zemen (#11) knocked down a three-pointer at the 14-minute mark, but the Rams answered back with a three of their own and got a bonus shot off a Corsair foul. The first half was a tight battle with points coming from the three-point line. The Corsairs managed to get six three-pointers while the Rams made only five threes in the first half.
The Corsairs prevailed after the first 15 minutes of play. They went into halftime leading 42-41.
The second-half began with a Wilson jump shot in the first nine seconds. Near the 13-minute mark, the Corsairs pulled away. Mekhi Kimble (#2) made one from beyond the arc and increased SMC’s lead to 55-48. Kyle Young (#15) followed up with a layup and Wilson jumped in with a layup of his own to make it 59-50 with nine minutes remaining.
The Rams fought back and turned the game around off a Dale Currie (#15) steal. San Francisco’s Austin McCullough (#11) sank one for three points and the Rams took over 59-61. Marcus Harris brought it back to a 61-61 tie off a free throw.
Harris, again, pulled his team and gave them a one-point lead after a layup, but the Rams’ Walter Urbina (#24) answered back with a free throw just under a minute to make it a 63-63 tie. With the clock winding down the Corsairs began making intentional fouls. After the Rams’ Malcom Johnson (#4) made a free throw to take a 63-65 lead, SMC tried answering back but failed. Chastin Mouton (#21) missed from the three-point mark which would have given SMC the lead.
The final score was 63-67, a bitter loss for SMC. The game culminated a three-game winning streak for the Corsairs in the playoffs.