Brahmas win playoff game

Tyler McGee/roundup

Since 1983 the men’s basketball team had not seen post season play, that was until last night.
 
The Brahmas playing in their first playoff game since reinstating the program in 2002 and before that in 1983, looked like that stretch should have continued in the first half.
 
But that changed in the second half winning 71-60 over Moorpark.
 
The Brahmas played slow, unmotivated and flat, They found them selves down by double digits most of the first half.
 
By the half time Pierce was down 29-40. With Moorpark’s Mike Meza leading the way with 16 points.
 
Early on in the second half the theme of the game was the same the Brahmas were out hustled and out played by the Raiders who the Brahmas had played twice this season already. 
 
With 16 minutes left the Raiders had a 13-point lead at 34-47 and it seamed the Brahma season was over. But the Brahmas woke up and for the rest of the game Pierce played inspired basketball.
 
Two minutes later the Brahmas were down 6.
 
They were down by 2 points with 7 minutes to go in the game.
 
With 7:10 left in the game the Brahmas had fought their way back and tied the score.
 
With the now raucous crowd behind them and their shots falling the Brahmas steamed ahead for good.
 
Pierce head coach Ed Babayan talked about his team’s turnaround late in the second half after the game.
 
 “They woke up, they realized it is a big game, they realized they needed to step up and play to their abilities,” said Babayan.
 
“They played like they had already won the game,” said Babyan explaining his team’s poor performance in the first half.
 
Moorpark head coach Remy McCarthy talked about the turnaround Pierce had following his teams 71-60 loss.
 
“They’re good defenders,” said McCarthy. “We got pretty god looks and didn’t hit them,” said McCarthy. ” They made some shots against our zone that they weren’t hitting in the first half,” said McCarthy.    
 
Pierce forward Malcolm Collins in the second half stepped up defensively and shut down Meza. Collins also did it offensively giving the Brahmas key points and fueling their comeback fire.
 
” I watched him in the first half get pretty much what ever he wanted,” said Collins. “I took away his right hand which is his strong hand and put it in his left and he didn’t know what to do with it,” Collins said about his plan for stopping Meza.
 
Babayan talked about Collins following the game.
 
” We’ve been really waiting for Malcolm to arrive,” said Babayan. “He gave us his best performance in the biggest game in this programs biggest game since coming back.” 
 
Jeremy White was the leader for the Brahmas all night ending up with a game high 20 points. While point guard Ever Lopez finished with 10 points.
 
Babayan talked about his teams leading scorer for the game in high esteem following the game.
 
“Jeremy is Jeremy he does what he does, he scores, he rebounds, he plays great defense, he hustles, he plays harder than the other team,” said Babayan. ” He’s the type of kid you love to coach.”
 
Meza finished with 19 points while Spencer Schulte and Wendell Antoine each finished with 12 points for Moorpark.
 
Meza struggled in the second half with Collins guarding him and McCarthy gave this explanation as to why his team had the collapse.
 
“Were going to live and die with hi,” said McCarthy.
McCarthy talking about his teams star player following their defeat.
 
“He’s been a great player all year,” said McCarthy. ” He had some looks they just didn’t go.” ” He’s going to find a school next year and some one’s going to be lucky to have him.”
 
The Brahmas now will play San Bernardino who is the number one team in the tournament
Saturday.
 

The game is Saturday at San Bernardino with the game time to be announced.

 

tmcgee.roundupnews@gmail.com
 

Jeremy White turns heads as he goes for a lay-up against Moorpark College in the Regional Playoff game at Pierce College Wednesday, Feb. 24. (Photo by Louie Heredia) (Louie Heredia / Roundup)

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