Santiago Canyon College Basketball
Season 9 Volume 13
Hawks Show Grit in Victory at Saddleback
Santiago Canyon closed the week with another hard-fought road win, 76–75, at Saddleback on Friday night, showing composure and toughness in a game that came down to the final possession. The Hawks led 41–35 at the break and were able to withstand a strong second-half push by the Gauchos to secure the one-point victory.
Four Hawks scored in double figures, led by Dominic Bolton, who finished with 17 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting, including three triples. Jacob De Armas added 16 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while Paris Lassiter delivered a standout all-around performance with 16 points and a team-high 14 rebounds. Ryan Weber chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds to give Santiago Canyon strong production on the glass.
Jayden Oei provided a spark off the bench, knocking down four three-pointers on his way to 14 points, including the game winner with 4 seconds to play. As a team, the Hawks connected on 13 three-pointers and held their ground defensively in the closing minutes, making key stops to preserve the lead. The win capped a resilient effort in a tightly contested Orange Empire Conference matchup and highlighted Santiago Canyon’s ability to execute under pressure on the road. The Hawks are now 16-4 overall and 5-1 in the OEC. SCC will play Riverside City on the road on Wednesday, 1/28 and back at home on Friday, 1/30 hosting Santa Ana College.
Jayden Oei
Dominic Bolton
Matt Mendias
Hawks Come Up Just Short in One-Possession Battle with Fullerton
Santiago Canyon battled to the final buzzer but came up just short in a 71–70 loss to Fullerton on January 22 at home, snapping the Hawks’ strong run in Orange Empire Conference play.
The game was a grind from start to finish, with both teams defending at a high level and possessions coming at a premium. Jacob De Armas led Santiago Canyon with 21 points and five assists, consistently getting downhill and keeping the Hawks within striking distance. Jayden Oei provided a big spark off the bench, knocking down five three-pointers on his way to 17 points, while Matt Mendias added 11 points in key minutes.
Paris Lassiter impacted the game in multiple ways, pulling down 11 rebounds to go with 10 points, while the Hawks competed on the glass and forced Fullerton into tough shots throughout the night. Despite shooting struggles overall, Santiago Canyon stayed composed and put itself in position to win.
Trailing by one in the closing seconds, the Hawks generated two clean looks at the basket with a chance to take the lead, but both shots narrowly missed. Fullerton was able to secure the rebound as time expired, sealing the one-point decision.
Despite the result, Santiago Canyon showed resilience and composure against one of the top teams in the conference, and the narrow loss served as a reminder of how thin the margins are in OEC play. The Hawks are now 4-1 in conference play and 15-4 overall with another crucial road game coming up on Friday at Saddleback College
Salim Semaan
Ryan Weber
Paris Lassiter
