Story By LBCC’s Chris Ruiz

Men’s Basketball
The Long Beach City College men’s basketball team closed out its home schedule with a tough 76-60 loss to visiting Cerritos College on Friday night at the Hall of Champions Gym.
 
The loss dropped Long Beach to 13-14 overall and 5-3 in the SCC South. With the win, Cerritos improved to 12-13 and clinched the SCC South Division title with a 7-1 record.
 
The game was never in question for Cerritos as the Falcons jumped out to a 13-2 lead at the 16:04 mark and led 22-4 with 11:48 to go in the first half.
 
Cerritos held a commanding 41-22 lead at halftime thanks in part to 20 LBCC turnovers.
 
The Vikings, who relied heavily on the three-point shot all season, were cold from beyond the arc. LBCC missed its first 14 three-point attempts. Sophomore Randolph White broke the string with his three-point bucket at the 6:28 mark in the second half.
 
Freshman Stephan Gwin led LBCC with 20 points and seven rebounds. White had 13 points and five rebounds and sophomore Lane Whitney chipped in with 12 points and six rebounds.
 
Gregory Peer led Cerritos with 16 points and four steals. Marcellus Jackson posted a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Vikings return to action on Wednesday (Feb. 18) at 7:30 p.m. with a SCC South game at L.A. Harbor College.

Women’s Basketball
The Long Beach City College women’s basketball team closed out the 2008-09 home schedule with a 69-42 South Coast Conference South Division loss to visiting Cerritos College on Friday night at the Hall of Champions Gym.
 
Cerritos built a 34-26 lead at halftime and was never threatened.
 
In their final home games as Vikings, sophomore guard Yumi Takano poured in a team-high 14 points and sophomore forward Wendy Robles posted 13 points, six rebounds, and two blocked shots. Freshman forward Felicia Cade grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds.
 
Cerritos (19-12, 6-1 SCC South) had six players score in double figures. Mercedes Taylor (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Rachel Butler (10 points, 11 rebounds) had double-doubles for the Falcons.
 
Long Beach (1-25, 0-7 SCC South) closes out the season next Friday (Feb. 20) at L.A. Southwest College.