As the Hornets continue their season, they came out victorious against the LA Wildcats 87-68 on March 7. Granting them a fourth seasonal appearance at the state championships for Fullerton. The Hornets continued making one offensive play after another. The Hornet’s high-pressure defense made it difficult for West Los Angeles to score.
This marked their third matchup of the season, with the Hornets and Wildcats tying the first two games. The biggest challenge for Head Coach Perry Webster heading into the game had less to do with strategy and more with scheduling conflicts during the playoffs.
“The 7 days between games, it’s kind of a long week. So that was the big thing, just making sure we were focused. We knew we were better than them,” said Webster.
The Wildcats scored the first point of the game, with a dunk from number 30, Michael Baba. The Hornets responded with a three-point shot from number 2, Donovan Pitts. Yoda Oke number 1 drove to the bucket for a layup, then soon after, was granted a turnover for the Wildcats to regain possession. This would lead to another three-point shot made by Pitts, giving the Hornets an early 8-2 lead 3 minutes into the game.
Brayden Smith added to the lead, making a mid-range jumpshot. Soon after, he was charged with his first foul of the game against Wildcat’s number 24, Malachi Knight. Knight went one of two at the free throw line, as Oke rebounded the second attempt that missed. This would lead to Pitts making another three-point shot, off a dribble-drive by Hornets number 10, MJ Smith.
Pitts was a significant offensive player, finishing with 18 points to lead the team. He embraces the amount of effort that both he and his teammates have put into their program to strive in the right direction.
“I know I’ve been putting in the work. I know my teammates have been putting in work. My teammates and coach trust me, and I had the confidence to go out tonight, like every night, and my shot was falling,” said Pitts.
At the 12-minute mark, the Hornets were leading 24-11 against the Wildcats. Fullerton’s defense was aggressive from the opening tip, as the Wildcats were unable to run their offensive sets. The continued pressure from the Hornets created turnovers and missed shots. MJ and Hornets number 30, Brayden Smith, blocked incoming layups that were attempted by Wildcats number 11 Michael Baba and Wildcats number 3 Qiani Bowens on back-to-back possessions.
By the end of the first half, the Hornets took a 47-25 lead into the locker room. Hornet number 4, Trey Thompson, completed a 3-pointer. The Hornet’s offense was the highlight of the game, with players constantly making shots and being unselfish with their ball movement.
“Our guys really shared the ball tonight,” said Webster. “And I think that at this point in the season, we’re sharing the ball as best as we have, and I think that’s what’s making us really effective on that end.”
In the second half, the Wildcats started strong, with a jump shot by Chase Colemon. West L.A. amped up the pressure by putting on a full-court press at the 17-minute mark. This did not affect Hornets number 22, Bishop Brooks, who made a three-point shot from the wing. Shortly after, the Wildcats went to a 2-3 zone defense in hopes of slowing down the Hornets.
Tensions between the two teams would elevate as the game continued. Both teams committed fouls on back-to-back possessions. Notably, Coleman was charged with a technical foul, on top of the three personal fouls he already had, and did not return for the rest of the game. Things really started to ramp up once the referee issued the Wildcats a bench warning.
At the 9-minute mark, the Hornets extended their lead to 77-51, as the team continued to play hard throughout the game. They kept building on the momentum from their lead, with Thompson getting a transition steal from the Wildcats, then passing it out to MJ, who assisted Hornets number 5, Jaqari Miles, on a 3-pointer. This boosted the team’s confidence and motivation, and what Pitts believes is the key for them as they move forward in their season.
“We worked hard all year, and our hard work feels like it’s finally being shown. Going into the tournament, we need to know what we did to get there and know what to do to stay successful. Teamwork, everybody’s sharing a rock, not just one guy,” said Pitts.
As the game was coming to an end, Webster started to sit his key players at the 2-minute mark. Oke, being one of them, as he led the team in scoring with 23 points. Webster motivated his players and put everyone on the bench who was in good spirits, knowing they would be moving on to the State Championships.
When the final buzzer sounded, the players gathered around with their friends and family on the court, after an 87-68 win over West L.A., to secure a spot in the state quarterfinals. Another challenge awaits Webster and his team as he remains confident in his players’ abilities to prepare for their next game.
“Our guys just got to make sure we have another good week of practice and prepare for whoever our opponent is next. Every game is a big game for us, so we just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” said Webster.
Fullerton will travel to College of the Sequoias to face San Jose on Friday, March 13. Game time is at 1 p.m.
