Cerritos men’s basketball team clinched the conference title after beating ECC Compton, 89-63, Wednesday night.

The Falcons are looking forward to trying for a nine-game winning streak in their last game of the season against LA Harbor Friday which, Coach Teplitzky described as, “a serious practice game for the upcoming playoffs.”

After that tough loss to El Camino early in the season, Cerritos took that defeat as a motivational tool and pulled out eight straight wins with disciplined defense and a patient offense.

Those characteristics were shown against Compton the entire game, getting steals from their half court trap and tough interior defense.

Sophomore Jeremiah Barnes hit two consecutive three pointers towards the end of the first half to give the Falcons some momentum.

Five different players scored in double figures for Cerritos and the Falcons got a big boost off of the bench from Sophomore Van Girard in particular who scored 19 points and collected 10 rebounds.

Guard Jamaal Washington for Compton tried to keep his Tartans afloat with a 26-point effort, but they couldn’t find a rhythm at any point in the game and seemed staggered by the Falcons defense.

At the 12:29 mark in the second half, the Falcons were already up by 30 points and Cerritos did not let up the rest of the way, which Barnes said was a bad habit with the Falcons before conference play began.

The Falcons got some double-double action from Marcellus Jackson, who got his ninth of the season, with 10 points and 17 rebounds and Freshman Jeremy Pope, who scored 14 points and 10 assists.

Cerritos players contributed strong at both ends of the floor, making 10 three-point shots, 14 steals and 6 blocked shots from Marcellus Jackson alone.

Coach Teplitzky also stated that, “This season players are just stepping up every night and the leads that would normally be lost by them, are now being increased upon.”

If the Falcons are to make a strong run in the playoffs, those same team efforts will need to be executed.