(Walnut, CA) Eighteen months ago, the Mt. SAC Women's Basketball Team was ready to board the bus and being their quest for a ninth state title at 2020 California Community College Athletic Association State Championships, in Lemoore (CA).
The pandemic ended any thoughts of that, as the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) abruptly cancelled the basketball and spring sports seasons.
Fast forward 18 months, the Mounties are set to host the 25th Annual Linda G. Smith Memorial Tip-Off Classic and begin the 2021-22 season.
The Classic, named in honor of Linda G. Smith (Aunt of Mt. SAC Women's Head Coach Brian Crichlow) who handled the hospitality and food for the tournament for many years.
In the 2019 tourney, the Mounties won their 13th title in the last 16 years.
The eight-team tourney opens Friday (Nov. 5), continues on Saturday (Nov. 6), and concludes with the championship Sunday (Nov. 7). Each team will play on game a day, with four games scheduled on each day.
Included in the tourney are Sierra College, Long Beach City College, Barstow College, Rio Hondo College, Saddleback College, Citrus College and San Diego City College.
Along with the Mounties, Sierra was another of the final eight teams scheduled to compete in the 2020 state championships.
Mt. SAC will tip off the tournament on Friday, at 6:00 pm, against San Diego City College.
"They are looking for some normalcy," said Crichlow, referring to hopefully playing a normal season. "I'm looking forward to Friday and being in an atmosphere with basketballs bouncing, referees' whistles blowing, and tough love. I love these players like my own.
"It's just been a long wait and we spent eight months doing zoom workouts," Crichlow added. "I applaud these women for staying diligent and consistent."
Crichlow, a five-time SCC Coach of the Year and 2011 CCCAA State Coach of the Year, will be joined by assistants Zack Hope, Carsandra Taylor, and Darryl Kennedy.
After the season-opening Tip-Off Tournament, the Mounties will have two home games through the rest of 2021 against San Diego Mesa (Nov. 10) and San Bernardino Valley College (Nov. 13).
The team will finish November and December playing in their annual tournament trips to Ventura (Nov. 18-20), College of the Sequoias (Dec. 2-4), and finally in the L.A. Valley Tournament (Dec. 8-10).
"For us, we didn't get to do our preseason retreat," said Crichlow, who is in his 12th year as head coach and has guided the Mounties to four CCCAA State Championships. "We have to rely on the opportunities (to bond) while we are on the road and grow the team together. As long as we keep growing together, we'll be fine."
The defending North Division Champions (2020) will begin South Coast Conference action in January.
THE TEAM
The Mounties have three returning sophomores on this years' roster, two of which were All-South Coast Conference players. The rest are freshmen.
"It feels good and I'm excited for the season and our new team," said sophomore guard Mina Guevara-Goss, who was All-SCC First Team in 2020. "It's very young. We have to have a lot of patience right now with the young girls. They're good and athletic. It's just getting on the same page so we could do the same thing we did last year."
Also named to the All-SCC team was 6-2 sophomore forward Skylarr Little, who was chosen for the second team. "Literally, my only role is to protect the basket, get rebounds, block shots, get put-backs, and so forth," she said. "This year, my responsibility is more now because I'm a sophomore and I'm supposed to lead the rest of the team.
"Not getting to play in the (championship tournament) last year was horrible, especially for the sophomores. Last season was the get-back year to get Mt. SAC back on the map. I think we could have won it."
The third sophomore is 6-0 guard/forward Allyah Cartajena. "I feel like when he's funny, it brings so much energy out of us and it just makes us have a good practice," said Cartajena, referring to the other side of coach Crichlow. "He'll switch off on us. He'll be strict with us and then some jokes will get us going.
"(This year) it's about finding trust in our teammates and getting to know each other and creating a bond. I think we'll be fine."
Crichlow spoke of his three sophomores, who will be expected to lead the lead this year.
"To be a good leader, you have to have once been a good follower. I think they all three kind of understood that in their own way," Crichlow said. "It's very rare that we have had only three sophomores on the team. I'm confident in those three girls that they'll lead us to learn and adapt to their new role."
FRESHMAN TO WATCH
- Sanaisha Morgan, 6-0 forward, Cajon HS – "Hopefully is going to be a major piece to the puzzle. She brings so much athleticism and toughness and speed from a power forward standpoint."
- Elle Yick, 5-4 guard, Walnut HS – "A local kid from Walnut High School and leader of the Mustangs Hacienda League Championship Team and Ebony Delgado, 5-3 guard, Ganesha, are two point guards and are two of the smallest kids on the team. Delgado was a member of the 2020 Ganesha CIF 5A Championship team. Both are winners."
- Briana Lizardi, 5-9 guard, Eisenhower HS – "2021 CIF Division 2A Player of the Year from the Eisenhower CIF Championship team (2021). We look for big things from her."
- Kamesha Moore, 5-6 guard, Pasadena HS – "She brings some leadership and toughness and some skill."
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.