#12 SMC Loses Back-to-Back Against Conference Rival #14 LA Valley 73-64

Tyren Garrett watches the action closely during SMC's game against East Los Angeles on November 27th, 2019 at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs fell short 87 - 82 at home. (Photo by Michael Waas/The Corsair)

The Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs hosted the LA Valley Monarchs on Feb.15, a contest that could determine which team will get the upper hand in conference. The game also acted as a rematch,with SMC hoping to get a different result from an earlier 88-78 loss. Coming off of a disheartening loss to Citrus College, the Corsairs were poised to turn things around this game. According to the California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association (CCCMBCA) Feb. 10 polls Santa Monica came into the matchup ranked #12, and LA Valley came in at #14.

Early in the first half SMC got into their rhythm offensively hitting their shots, attacking the basket, and playing with a good pace. Led by Guard #1 Teddy Parham, the Corsairs started the game with an intensity LA Valley wasn’t ready for, and raced out to an early 14-2 lead. After a LA Valley timeout, the Monarchs went on a 9-2 run and were back in the game down three. Some costly turnovers by SMC allowed LA Valley to come back into the game. Although the Corsairs offense stalled at times in the first half, they were able to finish with some momentum and go into halftime with a 33-28 lead. Assistant Coach Devon Richardson talked about the message to the team in the locker room he said, “halftime really wasn’t too much about offense to be honest, we figured we were getting good shots, we were getting the looks...it’s just basketball sometimes they fall, sometimes they don’t…honestly halftime was more about us defensively stopping them, and the sets that they have”.

To start the second half, the Corsairs momentum cooled, and they didn’t play with the same intensity and urgency that was displayed at the end of the first half. SMC fell victim to more costly turnovers, many of which  were offensive fouls, and LA Valley was able to capitalize. Over the course of the entire game, the Corsairs managed to turn over the ball 17 times. Coach Richardson noted some reasons for the Corsairs turnover problem, ”because we were playing from behind, a lot of the foul calls we got were putting us at maybe five, or six charge calls…it all goes back to having a hard time scoring. I think if we make a couple shots, we don’t get in those situations.” He also added, “I don’t expect to win any games with 17 turnovers in a game…at the end of the day it’s just a lack of execution.” Going forward, looking at how the Corsairs take care of the ball will surely be something to watch for. As for their playoffs hopes, and seeding for these Corsairs it’s not time to panic. SMC still has the number two seed for the playoffs in their sights, with potential to possibly become a number one seed depending on how their conference rival Citrus does in their last two games. The next game for Santa Monica will be away against Glendale Feb.19 at 7:00pm.