A pair of freshman guards and CCCAA State Champions in RJ Banks and Jeremiah Davis came by the Fullerton College TV Studio to talk about their journey to glory. In this episode of News from the Hive, Sports Desk Editor Jake Rhodes takes us with the two players through the highs and the small number of lows throughout the season.

The Hornets finished the season 32-1 overall while going 16-0 in conference play, taking home a conference title and a state title.

It did not take long for the two to have high expectations for the season as both knew early on the team was very special just by the one goal they had in mind and the work they were putting in early.

“In the summer last year, me and all of my teammates were already focused on a state championship,” said Banks. “I felt like even back then I kind of at least knew or at least thought we were going to win it all.”

The Hornets got off to a fast start going, 4-0 before hitting the road to Central California for the big College of the Sequoias tournament to start the year. It is where the team stood toe to toe for the first time against the defending state champions at the time and No. 1 ranked team in Northern California, City College of San Francisco. Fullerton ended up winning the tough battle in overtime 105-102.

The vibes in the locker room were most certainly high as Banks stated, “We were one of if not the best team in California, and we have a target on our back.”

The following night was yet another highly contested game for the Hornets as they faced off against at the time the No. 2 ranked team in Northern California in COS. It wasn’t the prettiest of games for both squads, but the Hornets prevailed winning 67-61.

Davis credited Head Coach Perry Webster for preparing the team for those types of games going on to say the final 5 minutes is what really matters in winning tight games.

The team’s record stood at 7-0 before heading up to San Bernadino Valley College where Dominique Daniels seemingly played every minute of the game. Daniels dropped 29 points on the Hornets en route to handing the Hornets a loss and truly a wake up call the team needed.

When asked what coach Webster’s message to the team was, Davis was very honest in his response.

“Just learning from the mistakes we made. Although we kind of did need that. We mostly did not want to rely on that game or go back to that game because we knew it would mess with our mental [state],” Davis said.

Following the first and only loss of the season, the Hornets faced off against a future state tournament opponent in East Los Angeles College. The Hornets did not dwell long on the loss and blew right past East Los Angeles to start a 25 game win streak.

“Coming up, East LA happened to be our next opponent which was unfortunate for them. We came into the game with laser focus. [The loss] humbled us and it showed us that any given night you can be knocked off,” Banks said.

The Hornets moved on into conference play with high expectations and easily being the favorites to take an OEC Title. The Hornets of course played excellent basketball and finished 16-0. The question is how could a team with this much talent be able to stay motivated and focused?

“A big motivation factor for us throughout the year was our crowd and the support that we got from our school. I had never been a part of an environment like that,” Banks said.

The Hornets were off to the postseason starting off with a win against West LA College, easily ending the Wildcats season. It was on to San Diego City College where the Hornets had the most trouble they had all post season with the Knights, winning in a rugged and physical game, 77-74.

The Hornets most certainly had to keep their poise and Banks credited his coaching staff for their teachings on staying calm throughout games where opponents try to get into your head.

Davis grabbed the final rebound of the game and he said it was a big sigh of relief and that it was a great feeling.

Fullerton College was off to Lemoore, where they made easy work of West Valley in the Elite 8. Then, the Hornets faced off against East Los Angeles yet again. It was a tight first half, but the Hornets in the end prevailed.

It is definitely tough playing a team twice in the same season and being able to beat that same team twice. Banks knew that East Los Angeles knew to make adjustments coming into the second match-up.

“There’s a little extra motivation, because we are like you guys think that was a fluke. We are going to show you that it was not a fluke. We embrace the challenge,” Banks said.

The Hornets were off to the state championship where they faced yet again the City College of San Francisco Rams. This was not the first time the two teams faced off in a state title game as they met in 2019 as well where the Hornets won that one.

Well new year, same result. Fullerton dominated from wire to wire beating San Francisco again, 83-73.

Banks was holding the ball as time ticked down; he was surely excited in the moment launching the ball into the air.

“Definitely the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my life and for my family, brothers, friends, and everybody I know to be there to share that experience with me. It’s unbelievable, we have got to feel it again now,” Banks said.

The experience for Davis was quite emotional and credited his work and love towards the game and achieving what he sought out to do is a great feeling for him.

To end the interview, both were asked what their next moves in their basketball careers would be. Both simply answered they wanted to further their education and both are staying one more year to bring another state title to Fullerton College.