Brahmas end drought Pierce men’s basketball team wins first championship title in almost 40 years

Javier Meliton/Roundup

jmeliton.roundupnews@gmail.com

While having a tough first half, Pierce College men’s basketball team played hard in the second half and defeated Alan Hancock College on Saturday to win the Western State Conference Championship.

After a long 39 year drought, the Brahmas won the Western State Conference Championship and are heading to the playoffs after defeating Hancock College 75-73 making decisive free throws down the stretch.

Hancock had a chance to win the game with 21.7 seconds left on the clock and a one point lead until a controversial over the back foul was called on Hancock sending Pierce forward Codye Hatcher to the free throw line.

“They (Hancock College) were a good team and they came out competed and played hard,”Assistant coach Jason Cunningham said. “Funny thing about it is coach was standing up in front of me and I couldn’t see through him so I can’t really tell you what happened down there, I’m just happy we got the ball.”

Brahma point guard J.R. Williams started off the first half struggling but managed to pick it up towards the end of the half by making layups and a three pointer. Pierce forward Terrel Funches agreed Williams was big for them.

“He was huge he made a lot of adjustments like taking the ball to the basket, getting key guys open for the shots, penetrating to the basket, getting fouled and shooting free throws and was a big help for us winning the game,” Funches said. “At halftime we cut down on them and stopped them from getting rebounds.”

The controversial call on Hancock shooting guard Demetrius Thomas gave him his fifth personal foul meaning he had to sit out the remainder of the game. Thomas was torching the Brahmas from the three point line hitting his last three shots from outside.

“I think the referee made the right call, he used his elbows to clear space which is an offensive foul. We got the foul made two free throws and went up by one point. It was the right call,” Funches said.

Pierce starting wingman Donte Williams played every minute of the game and was aggressive throughout the game. He was a big factor in the Brahmas second half by scoring a huge corner three to bring the Brahmas up by one with a minute left.

“They were playing harder and we didn’t play hard enough and kept scoring back and forth, but in the second half we stepped the defense up,” Williams said. “I pretty much picked my spot and my teammates knew where I’d be and all year I been shooting the three’s and it was pretty much just knowing each other and picking a spot.”

Pierce wingman Myles Mungcal understands the playoffs are next for the team and expects great things from this team.

“We expect nothing less than a State Championship,” Mungcal said.

The Brahmas celebrated with glass bottles of juice in the locker room and will now head into the playoffs with aspirations of winning the State Championship.

Pierce plays Palomar in Playoffs March 1.