MENS BASKETBALL: THE SEARCH FOR MORE BANNERS

This Friday #7 Fullerton College will host #10 Allan Hancock College in the second round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs. The game is scheduled to start at 7:00 pm in the Hornets Nest.

After finishing in a respectable second place in the Orange Empire Conference, the Hornets (20-7 overall, 9-3 conference) have a tough road ahead in the playoffs. First up on the road to the championship finals, Fullerton faces Allan Hancock (21-9 overall, 8-2 conference). This is the first time the Bulldogs reached the 20-win mark in five years. It is also the first time that the Bulldogs have made a postseason appearance since the 2013-14 season.

The last time these two teams met was during the Cuesta Tournament in the 2015-16 season. During that matchup the Hornets won by a score of 70-51. However, a couple of years have passed since they last met and both teams have new rosters.

There are some talented Fullerton players to look out for in Friday's game, sophomore guard Jason Richardson is one of them. Richardson averaged 18.4 points a game (3rd in the OEC) 4.8 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. His game-high for the season was 34 points against Mount San Jacinto College back on November 10th. Richardson is due for a breakout performance, and hopefully he can breakout once again against the Bulldogs. Khalil Stevenson is another player that has had success with the Hornets. A sophomore guard, Stevenson averaged 10.1 points per game. His game-high for the Hornets this season was 19 points against San Bernardino Valley College on December 7th. He was one of the Hornets selected to the 2nd team All-OEC. Big man Ronne Readus is the second Hornet that was selected to the ALL-OEC 2nd team. Readus averaged 9.4 points and led the team in rebounds at 6.8 rebounds per game.

The Bulldog roster is equally talented with four Western State Conference (North Division) players in sophmore guard Shane Carney, sophomore guard Devin Davis, freshman forward Spirit Ricks, and freshman guard Glenn Jordan. Carney averaged a team-high 16.9 points per game, which ranked fourth in conference. Davis averaged 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He has 7 double-doubles under his belt this season. Ricks averages 10.6 points and has a team-best 7.1 rebounds. Jordan ranks fourth on the team putting up 10.3 points per game.

Either way you slice it, this game will be a tough test for the Hornets as they make their run at a second consecutive state tournament appearance. 

Come on out and support your Hornets by wearing white this Friday night!