Preview of Friday’s Junior College Men’s Basketball Game

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A tight California Community College Athletic Association South Coast Conference rematch is set for Friday when the El Camino Warriors visit the Los Angeles Southwest Cougars.

The teams last met on Jan. 28, with the host Warriors falling 75-72 in a game that wasn’t decided until the final possessions. Friday’s contest at Los Angeles Southwest offers El Camino a chance for redemption and the Cougars an opportunity to secure a regular-season sweep.

Los Angeles Southwest (16-8 overall) holds the superior record and won the first matchup, but is looking to rebound from an 86-69 road loss to Cerritos last Friday. The Cougars had won four of their previous five games prior to that defeat.

El Camino (13-11) also seeks to bounce back from a narrow home loss, a 73-70 defeat against Compton last Friday. The Warriors have alternated wins and losses over their last six games.

A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top scorers. El Camino will lean on guard Rocco Gaffoglio, who is coming off a 27-point performance in the loss to Compton. He averages 15.1 points per game in his last seven contests.

For Los Angeles Southwest, guard Demaree Collins provides a dynamic offensive threat. He scored 23 points in the loss to Cerritos and was instrumental in the first win over El Camino, contributing 8 points, including crucial late free throws.

Beyond the star guards, the game may hinge on defense and rebounding. In the Jan. 28 meeting, the Cougars managed to contain Gaffoglio, holding him to 7 points. El Camino will need more from its supporting cast, such as Chase Williams and Linken Tate, who combined for 13 points in the last outing.

The Warriors have shown resilience on the road this season, including an overtime win at Compton last month. The Cougars have been strong at home, boasting a 7-2 record in their own gym since early December.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST on Friday, Feb. 13, at Los Angeles Southwest College.