HAWKS, FALCONS MEET FOR 3C2A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL TITLE

NORWALK, Calif. (Interstat) — A spot in the California Community College Athletic Association state championships will be on the line Saturday when the Cerritos Falcons host the Santiago Canyon Hawks in the 3C2A Southern California Regional Final men’s basketball championship.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. at Cerritos College.

Top-seeded Cerritos (25-4) enters as the favorite, boasting one of the state’s best records and a dominant 79-64 road victory over Santiago Canyon from Dec. 5. The Falcons have won 10 of their last 11 games, including an 84-76 overtime win over Irvine Valley in their playoff opener. Sophomore forward Dorian Tate has been a force, averaging 21.8 points and 9.3 rebounds over his last four contests. He scored 29 points with 13 rebounds in a rout of Long Beach City on Feb. 20.

Fifth-seeded Santiago Canyon (19-8) advanced with a narrow 90-87 victory over Antelope Valley, led by a near triple-double from guard Paris Lassiter. The sophomore posted 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in that win, part of an inconsistent but potent stretch where he nearly averaged a double-double. The Hawks rely on balanced scoring, with Dominic Bolton (22 points) and Jacob De Armas (21 points) also starring in the playoff win.

Cerritos’ path featured consistent blowouts, including a 42-point win over El Camino and a 42-point win over Compton in February. Santiago Canyon’s season has been more turbulent, with recent losses to Riverside and Fullerton but key wins over Saddleback and Irvine Valley.

The Falcons will look to leverage their size and Tate’s interior scoring, while the Hawks will need another all-around performance from Lassiter and hot outside shooting to pull the upset on the road. The winner advances to the CCCAA state final eight.