The Irvine Valley men's basketball program will host its 25th Annual IVC Classic on Thursday and Friday with two games each day.
The team features a strong field of four teams with all four undefeated coming into the event. Three of the teams were ranked in the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 Preseason Southern California Poll.
Play starts Thursday with Canyons (2-0) taking on Cerritos (2-0) at 5 p.m. The Lasers (1-0) follow against Ventura (3-0) at 7 p.m.
Ventura, ranked No. 4 in So. Cal. in the preseason, is off to a fast start. The squad beat Pasadena City, 78-37, to open the year and then had solid victories over Victor Valley, 90-50, And Antelope Valley, 104-103, in double overtime to capture its own We Play Hard Tournament last weekend.
Anthony McIntyre led the Pirates with 37 points on 15 of 25 shooting from the floor, including two three-pointers, with six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Adrian McIntyre finished with 23 points, including a 12 of 14 performance at the free throw line, five boards, four assists and 10 steals, including the theft that led to the game-winner for the Pirates in the victory over Antelope Valley.
Cerritos comes into the IVC Classic ranked No. 11 in So. Cal.
The Falcons defeated Mt. San Jacinto, 69-58, and then College of the Desert, 92-70, last weekend at College of the Desert.
In the win over COD, Dorian Harris showed why he is considered to be one of the best shooters in California at the community college level.
In just 21 minutes of action, Harris drained 7 of 11 on three-pointers and finished with a game-high 31 points, as the Falcons started to pull away late in the first half and never looked back. Just as impressive as his shooting numbers, which included going 9 of 15 from the field, Harris pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and dished out three assists.
Irvine Valley, ranked No. 15 in So. Cal., opened with a 68-48 victory at Cuyamaca last week.
The Lasers went on the road Tuesday night and defeated Cuyamaca, 68-48.
Irvine Valley had 11 players score in the contest and three in double figures.
Leading the way for IVC was freshman forward Charlie Henderson with 12 points. Sophomore guard Luc Krystkowiak added 11 points and freshman guard Tyson Robinson had 10 points.
Aaron Strings, a sophomore guard, chipped in seven points and freshman guard Brian Mendoza and sophomore forward Colby Waite each contributed six points.
Canyons wasn't ranked in the preseason, but is off to a great start to the 2021-22 campaign. The squad has a record of 2-0 and won its own Clash at Canyons Tip-Off Event last weekend.
The Cougars' ended the event with a 116-84 victory over Barstow on Saturday.
COC's Andrew Henderson posted a big game for the Cougars, finishing with 25 points, 15 rebounds and three assists.
He was 9 of 13 from the floor en route to earning tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. Jimmy Galgano ended with 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Galgano joined Henderson in being named to the all-tournament team.
Games in the Irvine Valley Classic will be live-streamed at Irvine Valley College Athletics | Facebook
