MEN'S BASKETBALL: SOCAL FINALS PREVIEW

The #1 seeded Fullerton College Hornets and the #8 Chaffey College Panthers will battle it out in Fullerton this Saturday for a Southern California Regional Final showdown with the winner advancing to the CCCAA State Tournament.

The Panthers (23-8) and Hornets (23-6) met only one time this season with Fullerton getting the best of Chaffey 83-59 at the Riverside City College Holiday Tournament back on December 9, 2016.

Still feeling the sting from last season, the Hornets were bounced by the Panthers 73-71 in the SoCal Semi-Finals in overtime ending their season prematurely.

"This isn't about us vs. Chaffey and last year's teams. Both teams are very different. Chaffey is the team that can stop us from reaching our goals this season, and that's our focus. Our win against them in the Riverside Tournament means nothing. We were both different teams back then. We know the team we'll see on Saturday will be very excited to play us", Hornet Head Coach Perry Webster.

Both teams are conference champions and both feature some very talented players.

PANTHER STANDOUTS

Brian Beard Jr. - Sophomore, SCC-North Conference MVP, averages 19.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists

Kameron Curl - Sophomore, 1st Team All-SCC, averages 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds

Christian Carson - Sophomore, 1st Team All-SCC, averages 8.9 points

Anthony Kirkwood - Sophomore, 2nd Team All-SCC, averages 5.7 points and 7.2 rebounds

HORNET STANDOUTS

Ian Fox - Sophomore, Orange Empire Conference MVP, averages 13.8 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.3 rebounds

Kenny Barnes - Sophomore, 1st Team All-OEC, averages 12.2 points and 5.5 rebounds

Dillon Reise - Sophomore, 1st Team All-OEC, averaged 12.2 points and 5.2 rebounds

Kendall Lauderdale - Freshman, 1st Team All-OEC, 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds

Nick Anderson - Sophomore, 2nd Team All-OEC, 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists

Up Next: The Hornets and Panthers will meet at Fullerton College's Hornets Nest this Saturday night (March 4th) in the SoCal Regional Finals. Tip off will be at 7:00 pm. Hornets wear your blue!

The CCCAA State Tournament will be played at La Positas College in Livermore, California where four teams from the south and 4 teams from the north will play in an 8 team tournament running Thursday, March 9th through Sunday, March 12th. CCCAA Championship Fact Sheet

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