Pete Moye’
Sports Button

As proclaimed in Nike’s newest advertisement that is led by the Oklahoma City Thunder’s star forward Kevin Durant, “Basketball never stops.”

But with the cancellation of the 2011-2012 NBA season seeming nothing but imminent, local basketball fans have even more reason to look toward the Cerritos College basketball teams more than ever to get their fix of basketball.

While both teams started and will continue to play the entire fall schedule on the road, the promise of a sucessful season can be higher then in previous years.

Starting with the men’s team, experience and height will always be one of the biggest factors when it comes to college basketball.

That being said, with four players over the height of six feet, six inches, one of which includes sophomore forward Darius Williams, the team should not struggle to grab rebounds and defend inside.

Williams made First-Team All-South Coast Conference last season and was the Falcons’ leading shot blocker last season to go along with being third on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game.

His ability to clean the glass will be key during the season, due to the Falcons losing the No. 1 and No. 2 scoring options from last season.

The 20-point season-opening victory over Fullerton College Nov. 9 with more than three players scoring double digits, is an ideal start for the Falcons

With a core of sophomore guards, a deep rotation will be expected for defensive purposes.

The men’s first home game will be against Santa Ana College on Dec. 23 at Gahr High School.

The women’s team has lost some important pieces this past offseason. Two notable mentions include April Perry and Rose Boatner, who were both two-time First-Team All-SCC selections.

Perry and Boatner both accepted scholarships to play for Southern University of New Orleans.

Filling the scoring void that Perry left at 15.9 points per game will be the team’s challenge, which it has somewhat been successful due to the team advancing to the championship game in the team’s first tournament of the season.

The women will travel to Santa Barbra City College to partake in the Santa Barbara Tournament Thursday through Saturday, while the men will play at the Irvine Valley Tournament on the same days.

So while the voice of Charles Barkley will be deeply missed by basketball fans across the nation, college fans and fans of the sport should take the year to observe the future talent of the league that is currently playing for merely the love of the game.