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When given the chance to dunk on a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference opponent, Micah Brickner would choose that play over any other.
Against Mesa College, Brickner had three huge dunks in a 90-60 rout at Harry West Gym on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
“I love getting up there,” Brickner said in a post-game interview with City Times Media.
Brickner was one of six Knights (17-5, 10-0 PCAC) that scored in double digits, finishing with 14 points and six rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor.
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City remains undefeated in the PCAC, and as it is often the case in a long season in a physical sport like basketball, injuries can occur.
Despite the depleted roster City has won four straight games with only seven available players.
“It sucks that we have a lot of guys out, but you know, with guys being out, it creates opportunity for the guys that we have left,” Brickner said. “I’ve had to step up into a bigger role, and Coach Mitch (Charlens) has helped me a lot, just (to) be ready to step up into that role.”
Charlens noted his team really cares for one another and that togetherness is showing itself on the court, including against Mesa (8-15, 3-7 PCAC).
“10-0 in conference is great,” Charlens said. “The injured guys are rooting for the guys that are playing, and the guys that are playing are stepping up into much bigger roles.”
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Sophomore Cyprian Hyde suffered a concussion against Cuyamaca on Jan. 9, and his return remains uncertain, according to assistant coach Joe D’Ambro.
Freshman Luke Hecht and Larry Lewis III have also been sidelined for multiple games due to injury.
Hecht suffered a shoulder strain in the first few minutes against Southwestern on Jan. 21, and Lewis has been dealing with lingering plantar fasciitis in his foot.
Both were game-time decisions against Mesa, but neither played.
“We’re talking to the family and (Cyprian) all the time,” Charlens said. “A bunch of the guys went up to be with him this past weekend. He’s progressing. And then Larry and Luke are battling less severe injuries, and so hopefully we get them back here in short order.”
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PCAC Player of the Month Dylan Griffin continued his dominance with a double-double against the Olympians, scoring 20 points and collecting 16 rebounds.
The Knights held Mesa to 27 points in the first half and turned over the Olympians 20 times.
“We’ve really reached a point where the guys are really close, really connected offensively and defensively,” Charlens said. “Our defense is probably the funnest thing for me to watch right now, just how connected they are.”
With the midway point in the conference schedule reached, City will play each PCAC opponent a second time with its sights set on a third straight conference championship.
The Knights will be back at Harry West Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 5 p.m., to face off against Imperial Valley.
Charlens will be recognized in a special ceremony for his reaching his 400th win as City College head coach.
Women’s basketball takes win over Cuyamaca after a two-game loss streak
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The San Diego City College women’s basketball team faced Cuyamaca College, winning 79-46 at Harry West Gym on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
With the victory, the Knights rebounded from a two-game road losing streak after falling to MiraCosta, 105-57, and Palomar, 83-56.
The Knights (12-10, 4-2 PCAC) kept the Coyotes under 30 points in the first half with the energy on the court from City’s players throughout the game.
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That intensity showed up on both sides of the court with City’s rebounding. The Knights fought for every ball, leading to 55 rebounds, with 23 of those being offensive.
Though Cuyamaca had the size advantage by a few inches, it couldn’t stop the Knights’ momentum.
Sophomores Dahlia Blake and Aamori Daniels used their experience to add fuel to the tank.
Blake used her post moves to secure 19 points and 14 rebounds to get a double-double.
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Despite 3-of-14 field goals from Daniels, she made up for it by being a presence on defense and getting to the free-throw line to tally 11 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double of her own.
The Knights wrapped up the second half with the momentum they had in the first, holding the Coyotes to just 17 points and keeping them under their average points per game of 49.8.
Daniels told City Times Media in the post-game interview that they would be looking to keep this momentum going throughout the rest of the PCAC play.
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“We’re just hoping to play the same way against every other team and give our best,” Daniels said.
City’s women’s basketball team will play its next game at Harry West Gym against San Diego Mesa College on Friday, Jan. 30 at 5 p.m.
This story was edited by Mari Pliego.
Correction, Feb. 2: A photo caption in the gallery has been edited to reflect Mesa College’s Jeremiah Parker is a small forward. City Times regrets the error.
