Cougars Dominate Clash at Canyons Tournament

The College of the Canyons (COC) basketball team made a strong statement at the recent Clash at Canyons tournament, securing two impressive victories to claim the championship.

Victories and Standout Performances

• First Win: COC defeated Barstow College with a final score of 87-59.
• Championship Win: The next day, they faced Cuyamaca College in the final and won 87-66.

Freshman Thomas Pickens was a standout player, scoring a game-high 25 points off the bench. His performance was crucial in securing the win against Cuyamaca.

Key Statistics

• Shooting Performance:
• COC shot over 58% from the field.
• Made 4 out of 8 three-pointers.
• Cuyamaca College:
• Shot just over 30% for the game.
• Made 22 of their 28 free throws.
• Rebounding:
• COC outrebounded Cuyamaca 40-30.
• Dwayne Boston Jr. led the team with seven rebounds.
• Bench Contribution:
• COC's bench scored 54 points in total.

Player Highlights

• Isaiah Aquino scored 24 points for Cuyamaca but couldn't overcome COC's defense.
• Wyatt Wilson and Muhammad Butler each contributed 11 points.
• Julius Washington was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
• Wilson and Pickens were recognized as All-Tournament Team members.

Historical Context

This victory marks COC's second Clash at Canyons title, with the first coming in 2023.

Upcoming Tournament

The Cougars are now set to compete in the Irvine Valley College Classic. Their first game is against Ventura College on Thursday at 5 p.m. This tournament will be another opportunity for COC to showcase their skills and build on their recent success.