Pirates off to sizzling start for 2022-23 season
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orange Coast (5-1) | 36 | 49 | 85 |
|
Palomar (6-2) | 41 | 53 | 94 |
SAN MARCOS -- It's been a stellar start to the 2022-23 men's basketball season for the Orange Coast College Pirates, as they have kicked things off with wins in five of their first six contests.
This past weekend, the Pirates headed down to the Palomar College Thanksgiving Crossover and opened things with a 68-61 win over previously unbeaten Miramar College (7-1). Jydon Hall led the way with 24 points, while Sam Hunter added 16 points. The boards were controlled by Jaiden Greene (eight rebounds, six points) and Kyndel Terrell-Jones (six rebounds, seven points), while the Pirate defense grounded the Jets with 19 turnovers, holding Miramar to its lowest scoring total of the season.
Miramar led 8-7 for its last lead of the contest as OCC went on a 13-2 run and never looked back. The OCC defense refused to give Miramar any sustained offensive runs and the turnovers helped pave the way for easy baskets.
The Pirates improved to 5-0 on Saturday with a 98-81 win over Imperial Valley. Coast ripped off 54 points in the opening quarter, outscoring IVC 54-41 ... a lead the Pirates would not lose the rest of the game. Hall again led the way with 24 points, but three other Pirate players -- Hunter, Logen Howard and Trent Williams -- supplied plenty of offensive support as well. Hunter added 14 points and six rebounds, Howard tossed in 15 points and dished out eight assists and Williams came off the bench and scored 10 points with four rebounds.
OCC's winning streak came to an end on Sunday as the host Comets took care of business and topped the Pirates, 94-85. Hall was an unstoppable force with 34 points, including an impressive 11-of-20 from the floor, while Noah Simmons added 13 points off of the bench. Hunter also added 13 points, while Howard added 11.
The last time the Pirates opened their season with five straight wins was 18 years ago when the 2004-05 squad posted season-opening wins against MiraCosta (79-71), Cerritos (56-55), Citrus (67-62), Santa Ana (75-50) and Compton (69-61).
OCC will continue its December road journey on Thursday when they compete in the West L.A. College Wild West Shootout against Long Beach City College, beginning at 1 p.m. The Pirates won't be back at the Peterson Gym until Monday, Jan. 9 against Fullerton College, beginning at 6 p.m.
