Rams move closer towards perfection

Ram’s Quincy Smith (11) dunks the ball against the Trojans at Skyline College on Feb. 15. (Santiago Mejia / The Guardsman)

Zack Tobita

The Guardsman

City College is one win away from an undefeated season.

In their second to last game of the regular season, City College (11-0, 27-0 Coast-North) defeated the Skyline Trojans (3-7, 9-14) 73-55 on Feb. 15 to stay undefeated.

Groundhog Day was earlier this month, but this entire season has had a Groundhog Day feel to it.

Throughout the Rams onslaught during this historical streak, they have finished with single-digit victories only twice this season. The last time being, their 82-73 win over Fresno on Nov. 18.

With the 18 point victory at Skyline, it marks a dominant 21 consecutive games of winning by over 10 points.

In the first meeting against Skyline, City College ran away with a 94-55 home victory on Jan. 23.

The Rams won the opening tip, and within seconds sophomore forward/center Gabriel Aguirre was fouled, grimaced in pain and reached for his ankle as he was falling to the floor.

It was a scare for City College, but all hearts on the City College bench were relieved when Aguirre got back up to sink both of his free throws.

The game was much closer in the beginning than the final score would indicate.

For the first 15 minutes of the game, Skyline fought a competitive battle and looked on par with the favorites.

With 6:37 left in the first half, Skyline had a 19-18 lead.

“They came out ready to play,” freshman guard Quincy Smith said. “Last time we beat them by 30, but they came out with a lot of intensity and fed off to the crowd and had some dunks.”

Although the Ram’s held a 35-27 halftime lead, the first half was uncharacteristically sloppy by City College standards.

“We didn’t come to play,” head coach Justin Labagh said. “There was no attention to detail.”

Ram’s Head Coach Justin Labagh strategizes during the game against the Trojans at Skyline College on Feb. 15. (Santiago Mejia / The Guardsman)

Supporting their fellow men’s basketball team, the Skyline women’s basketball team was instrumental to the intense atmosphere.

Even though the game was slipping away from Skyline in the second half, the women’s team would remain animated on every play and heckled the City College players from the sideline.

City College’s sophomore guard, Delon Wright would respond to the women’s team by hitting a three-point shot, then staring them down on his way back down the court.

“We haven’t had many close games, but this one was kinda close,” Smith said.

Multiple players have gotten offers from Division I programs, and with the season being almost over, players might be thinking about their post City College careers.

Aguirre isn’t focused on that.

“I have some offers, but right now I’m just going to worry about that after we win” Aguirre said.

City College will travel to Livermore to face Las Positas College for their last regular game of the season on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.