Starting Over

New hopes and a fresh start are both in store for the men's basketball team.

It dosen't really have a choice but to regroup since it has only one returning player from last year's team and he only averaged about a point a game.

What's odd is that the team was in a similar predicament around this time last year, with only one sophmore returning then.

At the end of last year's season, it seemed pretty optimistic that some of those players would return and would be able to make a run for the state title this season.

But due to ineligbility, transfering to another school, among other reasons, those players decided not to suit up this year, leaving the Falcons to have to start all over again sooner than it wanted to.

Losing key players like Aaron Thompson, Brandon Nevens and Brandon Ivery is definitley going to have an effect on this team. In the aforementioned players , the team lost it's leading scorer, assist-giver, and rebounder.

This year's team and last year's do have several things in common. Both teams had one player returning from the previous season. Both won its first game and lost its second.



In spite of this, the current team isn't dwelling on the mistakes and what-ifs of last year.

First-year players have stepped up and are taking charge of the team.

One of those players includes guard Demetrius Turner . He's been putting up big numbers including 28 points in the team's most recent loss agains L.A Trade-Tech. He's been averaging 18 points a game so far. So far he's the only player averaging double figures.

Though each member gives his own contribution when on the floor, other players to watch for are Jerrell Elder, Clyde Thomas and Authur Clark.

The team's next game is tonight at its home gym against Orange Coast College at 7 p.m. It should be an easy win.

The only player from last year's team guard Lawrence Robinson , has been seeing limited minutes so far. When he has played in the games, he's made a limted contribution. His play is very similar to that of last year, when he started half of the games yet averaged only 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds a game.

Maybe his "experience" will cause him to see more playing time and to make a greater contribution. But that will be Head Coach Gary Cain's desicion.



If the Falcons want to get farther than last year's second-round playoff exit, then the team is going to have to be more consistent on defense and not send up so many prayers known as missed three pointers.

The team should have no problem getting through league play starting in Jan. 07, being that the South Coast Conference doesn't provide much competition, except for L.A. Southwest and conference rival Long Beach

The Falcons stand deadlocked at 3-3 and have gone back and forth between losing a game following a win so far.

While this can be attributed to the newness of the players and each member getting adjusted to each other, the inconsistency can not continue when league play starts. If it does, the Falcons are doomed to repeat an early playoff exit if their wild play dosen't stop the team from getting there.

WrestleMania; Falcon Style

Let's get ready to ruuuuumbllllllleeee!!

Wrestling at Cerritos has always been a well-respected sport. It has definitley been one of the more consistently winning teams. In eighteen years the Falcons have won seven titles, it's most recent coming in 2004.

This season is no different as the team is off to as the team has a 6-2-1 record. There are always individual players who outshine and this season is no different as well.

The Falcons have its own version of Kurt Angle in Carlos Alaniz. Has the best personal record in 18-2. He's pretty much dominated every wrestler he's came against.



After redshirting last year, Alaniz comes back with a vengance. So far he has been ranked no.1 in the state in his the 133- pound weight class and is destined to win state in his weight class.

Another player to watch for is Brandon Doran. In between this season and last year's he lost 33 pounds and grew an inch!
Despite the weight loss, he still competes in the 285-pound competition.

Other players to watch for are Jack Porter and Louie Adelo.



However, as a team, it's toughest challenge has come from Palomar College and Santa Ana College . Palomar has been neck-and-neck with the Falcons as far as titles won in the last couple years.

Santa Ana, Palomar and the Falcons have the third through fifth in the state respectively.

Throughout this year, the Palomar and Cerritos have traded wins and losses. Palomar defeated them Sept. 16, 22-15. Since then, the Falcons have won every match.



The team met in the SoCal duels with a 26-12 Cerritos win. On Oct. 25, the teams also met and Cerritos came out the victor with a 27-7 win. It's certain that the two teams will face each other in the playoffs.

But despite the odds in favor of the Falcons taking it all, there are still some flaws. The team's weakest weight divisions are the 157 and 174 pound divisions. If the team wants to win state, then it will have to get stronger athletes in those divisions.

Though individuals such as Alaniz and Doran will win regional and state competition in their respective divisions, the team as a whole needs to become stronger to add another title to the wrestling legacy the Falcons have.