(Orange, CA) –For the first time in program history and in only its third established year, the Santiago Canyon College (SCC) Men’s Basketball team secured the first Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Championship in school history. The Hawks followed the OEC victory by scoring a playoff win to advance to the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Regional Finals.
After defeating Irvine Valley College 76-59 with pressure defense and aggressive offense to land the title of OEC Champions, the Hawks took on West Los Angeles College in the second round of state playoffs, securing a 107-99 win with a big offensive effort in the second half. SCC moves on to challenge Cerritos College in the Southern California Regional Finals at their home court at Santiago Canyon College on Saturday, March 7.
Led by the 2019-20 All Orange Empire Conference Coach of the Year Todd Dixon, SCC ended the 2019-20 regular season with a 26-2 record, setting a new school record for most wins in a season, and ranking No. 1 in Southern California according to the Massey Rating. The Hawks hold impressive stats and records throughout the team’s short history. During their first year, 2017-18, SCC’s overall record was 22-9, finishing third in the OEC and securing State Regional Finalists in the playoffs. In 2018-19, the Hawks held a record of 20-9, finishing second in the OEC and holding the State Regional Semi-Finalists title in the playoffs.
"We have had a lot of success this season," said Todd Dixon, SCC men's basketball coach. "We won the Santa Ana Tournament and Pasadena City Tournament in December and have continued our winning ways throughout conference play. We have been ranked No. 1 in Southern California for most of the season. It has been a great ride and the success is due to the work ethic of our student-athletes. They spend countless hours on and off the court to achieve their goals. We foster a family atmosphere and the players really enjoy playing together. Our team chemistry has been great all year. It's been a blessing to coach this group of young men. We are looking forward to the CCCAA Playoffs."
SCC earned many All-OEC honors for the 2019-20 season, including:
- MVP - Antoine Jenkins
- Best Offensive Player - Antoine Jenkins
- 1st Team All Conference - David Agba
- 1st Team All Conference - A.J. Garrity
- 1st Team All Conference - Paul Vilela
- 2nd Team All Conference - Paulo Araujo
- 2nd Team All Conference - Lucas Holden
- Coach of the Year - Todd Dixon
About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College (SCC) serves more than 17,000 credit and noncredit students each semester. In 2017, SCC was ranked No. 13 among the 50 Best Community Colleges in the U.S. by College Choice and is currently ranked No. 3 in California by bestcolleges.com, a leading authority in college and university rankings and resources. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and careers, and provides courses for personal and professional development, as well as customized training for business and industry. The college is recognized for its adult education program which keeps the working adult - and senior - in mind by offering flexible schedules, and community locations. Serving the residents of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Tustin, and Villa Park, SCC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
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