After strong non-conference schedules, #15 Men’s and #4 Women’s Basketball teams set to open WSC North action
After a strong non-conference schedule, the #4 defending WSC North Champion Women's Basketball team is poised to defend their title and make a deep play-off run as they open up WSC action at Pierce.
With wins over #3 Orange Coast, #5 Delta, #6 Fresno, #7 Palomar, #13 Chabot, #16 Long Beach, #18 Sequoias and #25 Ventura, the Raiders did not shy away from competition, entering WSC action with 12-3 overall record and a 7 game win streak.
The Raiders are led by So. Rebecca Saidof, who is averaging 16 points a game, and Fr. Mika Jarrett who has a 12 pgg average. So. Success Prysock and Fr. Leilani Peralta each sport a 7 points per game average but it's their defensive efforts that create offensive opportunities for the Raiders. Look for So. Rome Falcocchi and Fr. Angelina Santana to control the middle and boards.
The same can be said about the #15 Men's Basketball team. They did not shy away from competition going 11-5 in their strong non-conference schedule. The Raiders defeated #2 West LA, #4 defending state champ Fullerton, #18 Cerro Coso and lost 2 close games against #5 San Francisco and #10 Yuba.
Finishing in 2nd place and a play-off appearance in '23, the Raiders were picked to finish 3rd in '24 WSC North behind Hancock and VC and were not even mentioned in the CCCMBCA pre-season top 30 but after their non-conference schedule, the Raiders have everyone's attention and will be looking to vie for the WSC North title.
The Raiders are led by So. Jack Benyshek's 19 ppg average and an 85% free throw average, So. Jamaal Unakalu who has a 14 ppg average and is averaging 10 rebounds per game., and Fr. Avi Halpert who has a 16 ppg average with a 90% free throw average. So. Jeremiah Windham, Fr. Kenji Cooper, and Fr. Lukas Fenske will be keys to the Raider's success in WSC action.
Both teams open WSC North at Pierce on Wednesday, 1/10 and come back to host Santa Barbara on Saturday, 1/13