The Falcons basketball team lost in a trying effort in its Jan. 25 conference game against Mt. San Antonio College, 89-79 at Gahr High School.

Though the Falcons (8-13) started off struggling in the first half, their speed helped them take advantage of players like guard Nick Sanchez and forward Darius Williams took the lead against the physically defensive Mt. SAC, getting a 10-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game.

With their speed, the Falcons lacked in getting their rebounds over Mt SAC, only getting 11  in the first half, five of them  from forward J.P Olukemi before he was taken out for the half, compared to Mt. SAC’s 25 rebounds.

The Mounties gaining the rebounds, getting their second and third chance shots and with The Falcons slowing down, having a hard time keeping their hands on the ball, the Mounties  took over the game.

Mounties guard Evin Ware, who returned to his former high school, helped his team  take the lead and end the first half with the score 38 -32.

At the beginning of the second half, Williams tried to pump  the Falcons by raising the speed and intensity with his first points being a dunk.

Though the Falcons were motivated, the Mounties stepped up their physicality and defense,keeping  the Falcons in their place.

Every time the Falcons found another way to cut the score difference to single digits, the Mounties finds a way to beat them to the punch.

Near the end of the game, guard Keith Witz tried to make an impact and help the Falcons stay in the game with six points and three steals, but the Mounties shut them down.

“Cerritos is a quality team, and I feel that they made us work for the win; [The Mounties] are fortunate to get the win. We knew it was going to be a game of running, and we knew that the team was never going to quit and [the Mounties] need to work hard for the win,”  Mt. SAC Head Coach of Allen Caveness said.

The team’s scoring leader was Williams with 21 points, two blocks, an assist, and four rebounds.

Guards Anthony Scott and Robert Gills accounted for 29 of the teams’ points, two assists and four rebounds.